When most people think of artificial intelligence (AI), the images that come to mind are often linked to warfare, surveillance, or dystopian futures. But what if AI could also be a force for peace?
Branka Panic will explore how AI tools, such as machine learning and natural language processing, are being applied to prevent conflict and support peacebuilding efforts. From early warning systems that can detect signs of violence, to AI-assisted mediation strategies and peacekeeping missions, she will highlight real-world case studies showing how technology is being used to safeguard human rights and strengthen global security.
At the same time, her talk will confront the ethical challenges and dilemmas that arise when deploying AI in sensitive political and social contexts. How can we ensure these powerful tools align with peacebuilding goals and avoid reinforcing bias or deepening divisions?
Join us for a compelling look at how AI can move beyond the battlefield to become a transformative instrument for preventing conflict and advancing human security worldwide.
About the Speaker
Branka Panic is the Founding Director of AI for Peace, an organization dedicated to applying artificial intelligence to conflict prevention and peacebuilding. A frequent international speaker and advisor, she has worked with governments and global institutions on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Branka has published widely on how technology can support a more just and peaceful world.
Previously, she served as a Professor of Practice in Conflict Transformation at the University of North Carolina and as a Senior Advisor on AI at the German Federal Foreign Office. Branka is a Non-Resident Fellow at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation, and a recognized leader in the growing field of responsible AI. Recognized among the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics (2022) and as one of the top global leaders in responsible AI by She Shapes AI (2024/25), she is a leading voice at the intersection of technology, ethics, and peacebuilding.
With more than 15 years of global experience in the humanitarian, peace, and development fields, Branka brings both practical insight and scholarly expertise. She holds graduate degrees from Duke University and the University of Belgrade, is a Rotary Peace Fellow Alumna. She is co-author of AI for Peace (2024) and author of the forthcoming Foreign Policy at the AI Frontier – How AI is Reshaping Progress, Power, and Peace, to be published by Routledge later this year.