Artificial Intelligence and the Global South: Perils, Pitfalls and Potential April 22-23, 2026 401 Warren Hall Cornell University

Theme:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is viewed by some as having great promise, while others view the arrival of this novel technology with skepticism or concern. AI is certainly having a significant impact in many arenas of life. What are the specific implications of AI for people living in the Global South? This conference will examine the specific social, political, environmental and economic impacts of AI in and for the Global South, taking a holistic, perspective that considers the historical, socio-cultural, environmental and political-economic context in which AI is embedded in and entangles with across the Global South. Keynote speakers from a range of disciplines will focus on specific themes. We will have a special issue of a journal coming out of the event.

We invite paper presentations and posters for the one-day conference. Paper presentations will need a full paper submission in advance, to be considered for the special issue of the journal and/or edited book. Specific themes that will be considered include:

• Conflict, warfare and AI use in military
• Youth, employment and labor;
• Environmental impacts and potential (positive and negative);
• AI in agricultural extension and research;
• Cross-cultural communication, media and bias – Info sciences
• Data sovereignty, ethics, equity, justice
• Cultural implications e.g. music, arts, film, literature
• Democracy, governance, voting
• Health, medical advancements and health equity
• Education, knowledge and learning