Artificial intelligence & society
The lab · The Digital Palaver
The Digital Palaver questions artificial intelligence with the tools of the traditional palaver: machine memory, the future of rural life, education, digital sovereignty, cultural and linguistic bias, the future of work, the preservation of endangered languages and the ethics of automated decisions.
Discover the labAssignments
- Measure artificial intelligence in Africa and worldwide with the lab: connectivity, AI readiness, uses, research and talent, governance frameworks
- Draw on the register’s sources: AI diffusion data, the Anthropic Economic Index, the ILO generative AI exposure index, the IMF AI Preparedness Index
- Measure research and computing power with OpenAlex and the Epoch AI databases, and governance with the Global Index on Responsible AI
- Track connectivity with ITU and Ookla indicators, and the internet shutdowns logged by specialist observatories
- Map AI-related incidents from the AI Incident Database
- Check the licence of every source before any public use, with the Open Data Research Officer
- Design charts and maps with the Data Visualisation Designer and the GIS and Mapping Specialist
- Feed your figures into the briefs of the AI and Society Research Officer and into the lab’s palavers
Tools to master
- Google Colab and Python: collection and analysis
- Google Sheets: data tables
- The data source register: sources and licences
- Datawrapper or Flourish: published charts
What you will deliver
- Documented datasets on AI and digital issues
- Sourced country profiles with figures
- Charts ready for the lab’s analyses
Profile we are looking for
- Data analysis with Python, R or an advanced spreadsheet
- A solid interest in artificial intelligence and its effects on societies
- Rigour with sources, definitions and time periods
A volunteer role, open to young people
Every role we offer is fully voluntary. The experience we ask for can come from a course, a student project, an internship, volunteering or a personal project: every skill counts, wherever you gained it. Our roles are designed first and foremost for young people, and we weigh your motivation and potential as carefully as your track record. Want to be part of something big? Apply.
Nice to have
- Knowledge of the digital landscape in Africa
- Experience in data visualisation
- Good English and French
What this role gives you
- Quantitative expertise on AI in Africa, to highlight on your CV
- Charts and profiles credited to you in the lab’s publications
- Work with researchers, designers and analysts across several continents
Applications open until ; a new cycle follows
Applications open in forty-five-day cycles, each followed by the next. YouthShare reserves the right to close this listing as soon as the right person is found. We therefore encourage you to apply now.
The one-year commitment
A non-profit project is built over time. Every volunteer therefore commits for at least one year: time to settle in, carry the assignment through and pass on what they have learned. The weekly time depends on the role and is given in each role description.
How selection works
Online application
You choose a role, present your background and attach your CV. A confirmation email gives you your reference.
Profile review
The Talent team reads every application, matches it with the needs of the role and sends you a first reply by email within three days on average.
Video interview
A conversation to get to know each other and shape the assignment together.
Decision and arrival
You receive our answer by email, followed by a welcome to the team and access to its tools.
Know the right person?
Recommend this role to them: they receive an email from YouthShare that presents it, with your name and the link to apply. You can also share the listing on your networks.