Large language model chatbots driven by artificial intelligence, or AI, such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing, are gaining wider use in international development. The chatbots, a form of generative AI, have enormous potential to accelerate progress in tackling some of society’s greatest challenges, such as food insecurity, diseases, climate change, and disasters.
Because generative AI produces new content in the form of text, sound, and images based on information and data processed from extensive sources, it can foster creativity, stimulate innovative solutions, and contribute to sustainable development in novel ways. It can quickly sort through massive data sets to identify patterns and trends that may be challenging for humans to discern.
Development organizations are finding that Chat GPT and its rivals are valuable tools for conducting research and communicating with partners. They are also using generative AI to brainstorm ideas, solve problems, develop budgets and strategies, allocate resources, and measure the impact of interventions. Other uses include synthesizing lessons learned, drafting correspondence, resolving website glitches, reviewing documents, assessing job applications, monitoring transactions, assembling bid proposals, and preparing reports.