Examine how health systems, governments, and donors can rigorously evaluate the real-world impact of AI tools in healthcare.
This event was hosted in partnership with the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics.
This session is part of the Harvard Global Health Institute’s ongoing AI in Global Health Coffee Sessions in the series. These sessions explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in global health from multiple perspectives, including evaluation, implementation, governance, equity, and policy. While each session focuses on a distinct topic, the conversations are designed to build on one another and reflect the interdisciplinary questions shaping the field. Together, they highlight both the opportunities and the broader considerations involved in applying AI in global health contexts.
To learn more about other sessions in our AI in Global Health series, visit our recording & resources pages.
00:03:31 – Reframing AI Evaluation in Global Health: Myths, Assumptions, and Missed Priorities
00:08:22 – Building Ethical and Locally Relevant AI Evaluation Frameworks
00:15:14 – IDRC’s Long-Term Strategy for AI Research Capacity in the Global South
00:21:46 – From Community Priorities to Deployment: Practical Evaluation in AI for Pandemic Preparedness
00:27:57 – Understanding the Four-Level Framework for Evaluating AI in Health Systems
00:32:44 – Responsible AI vs. the Race for Speed: Addressing the Structural Accountability Gap
00:37:32 – Community-Led AI Governance and Evaluation in the Global South
00:42:00 – How Global Funders Are Evolving Their Approach to AI Evaluation and Collaboration
00:44:36 – How Researchers, Students, and Institutions Can Join Global AI Health Networks
00:49:24 – Transition to Discussion on Data Quality and AI Evaluation
This discussion examines whether AI can meaningfully strengthen global health systems by addressing challenges such as workforce shortages, delayed diagnostics, fragmented data systems, and outbreak preparedness, while critically exploring the growing gap between rapid AI deployment and the evidence, infrastructure, and frontline capacity needed to support it.
Explore key insights on how governments and funders can foster equitable, locally driven partnerships to responsibly scale AI innovation in global health.
Our speakers share their perspectives on how “high-tech” tools can amplify women’s voices and “high-touch” training can center compassionate, patient-responsive care to address critical challenges across diverse maternal health systems.
