AI’s impact spans globally across sectors, yet attention and voices aren’t equally distributed across impacted communities. This week, the Foundational Impact presents a humanitarian perspective as Daniel Emmerson speaks with Suzy Madigan, Responsible AI Lead at CARE International, to shine a light on those often left out of the AI narrative.

The heart of their discussion centers on “AI and the Global South, Exploring the Role of Civil Society in AI Decision-Making”, a recent report that Suzy co-authored with Accentures, a multinational tech company. They discuss how critical challenges including digital infrastructure gaps, data representation, and ethical frameworks, perpetuate existing inequalities. Increasing civil society participation in AI governance has become more important than ever to ensure an inclusive and ethical AI development.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

Summary

Think about how overwhelming it could be if you're driving at 70 miles per hour but have to rebuild the car as a whole. This is how Liz Robinson, CEO of Big Education Trust, describes her feeling as she started to realise the impact of AI in every aspect of education while managing daily school operations.

In this episode, Liz opens up about her path and reflects on her own "conscious incompetence" with AI - that pivotal moment when she understood that if she, as a leader of a forward-thinking trust, feels overwhelmed by AI's implications, many other school leaders must feel the same. Rather than shying away from this challenge, she chose to lean in, launching an exciting new initiative to help school leaders navigate the AI landscape.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

In this episode, Hult Prize CEO Lori van Dam pulls back the curtain on the global competition empowering student innovators into social entrepreneurs across 100+ countries. She showcases how young minds are tackling world challenges through creative solutions - like turning Hong Kong’s wasted bread into beer, and supporting indigenous Mexican communities through mindful tourism.

Beyond the headline-grabbing $1 million prize, Lori shares a deeper story about reimagining education and social impact. She brings to light how donor-reliant nonprofits are often constrained by narrow focuses on expense ratios rather than actual impact and believes in sustainable models that combine social good with financial viability. Lori also explores how AI is becoming a powerful ally in this space, while stressing that human creativity and cross-cultural collaboration remain at the heart of meaningful innovation.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation