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MERL Tech Initiative

@merltech.bsky.social

96 followers 100 following 53 posts

We care about responsible monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) in the development, humanitarian, peace building and social sectors. Join our natural language processing (NLP-CoP) community of practice: https://merltech.org/nlp-cop/

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MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · May 27

📣 The MERL Tech Initiative offers trainings for orgs/individuals interested in responsible, ethical, realistic design, use, and governance of digital tech and digital data.

Our trainings are designed based on decades of experience in MERL + critical approaches to tech.
merltech.org/trainings/

Training by The MERL Tech Initiative - MERL Tech

Who we are The MERL Tech Initiative (MTI) is a social venture that sits at the intersection of digital technology, human-centered information and communication, and the social sector. We support thou...

Reposted by MERL Tech Initiative

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 2d

What could happen if we decenter large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models, which cause undeniable harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe?

Later this month, we are hosting a 2-day course for those who want to explore using SLMs in their work. 👇

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 2d

This is a hands-on opportunity for those who want to learn about how small language models, built in purposeful and controlled ways, and managed with thoughtful design, can be an alternative. merltech.org/small-is-bea...

Small is Beautiful: Learn what SLMs can do for you - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is hosting a course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join our workshop on October 30 and November 06 to learn from experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 2d

What could happen if we decenter large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models, which cause undeniable harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe?

Later this month, we are hosting a 2-day course for those who want to explore using SLMs in their work. 👇

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 9d

Sign up here: merltech.org/small-is-bea...

Small is Beautiful: Learn what SLMs can do for you - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is hosting a course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join our workshop on October 30 and November 06 to learn from experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 9d

This course is for professionals in social impact, international development, and humanitarian work who want to explore using SLMs in their work. Participants will gain an introduction to SLMs, discover how the concept of “open” manifests within SLMs, and learn how to set up an SLM for their use.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 9d

SLMs are built with fewer computational resources, they can lead to faster processing, increased possibilities on smaller devices, more privacy and security, and they can be tailored by you and your team.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 9d

Large, resource-intensive, general-purpose AI models are causing undeniable harm to the environment, the climate, and communities around the globe. Small language models, built in purposeful and controlled ways, and managed with thoughtful design, can be an alternative.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · 9d

📢 We are hosting a course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join us on October 30 and November 06 for a hands-on, 2-day workshop led by experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén.
merltech.org/small-is-bea...

Small is Beautiful: Learn what SLMs can do for you - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is hosting a course on Small Language Models (SLMs). Join our workshop on October 30 and November 06 to learn from experts Cathy Richards and Jonas Norén.

Reposted by MERL Tech Initiative

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Aug 8

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton and Linda Raftree.

Register in the following link to join: merltech.org/intermediate...

Intermediate Data Analytics with AI: Digging Deeper with LLMs - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton a...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Aug 11

The NLP-CoP is hosting an event on August 21 to discuss how these AI directives may affect our work and what opportunities exist for advocates to raise concerns and fight for an approach to AI that is ethical and rooted in public well-being and sustainability. merltech.org/event-what-d...

Event: What does the US AI Action Plan mean for the use of AI in the social sector? - MERL Tech

Join the discussion on how these AI directives affect our work as MERL Professionals and non-profit workers and what opportunities to advocate for an approach to AI that is ethical, responsible, and r...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Aug 8

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton and Linda Raftree.

Register in the following link to join: merltech.org/intermediate...

Intermediate Data Analytics with AI: Digging Deeper with LLMs - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative and Evaluation + Learning Consulting are partnering to offer a new virtual training on Data Analytics with AI on September 10 and 17, led by experts Liz DiLuzio, Zach Tilton a...

Reposted by MERL Tech Initiative

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · Jul 31

Current concerns about AI’s adverse climate impacts are largely confined to operational energy and water use by data centers. While these impacts are important, they represent only a fraction of the ways in which AI can influence climate outcomes, write Felippa Amanta and Charlie Wilson.

The Overlooked Climate Risks of Artificial Intelligence | TechPolicy.Press

Felippa Amanta and Charlie Wilson explore how AI contributes to climate risks beyond data centers.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jul 29

Make sure you join the Community of Practice for some much needed, critical conversations about responsible, ethical applications of NLP and Generative AI for MERL in development, humanitarian, human rights, peace building, and philanthropy work: merltech.org/nlp-cop/

NLP Community of Practice - MERL Tech

The Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP) brings together monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) practitioners, artificial intelligence (AI) experts, and data resp...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jul 29

On August 14, we host Mpho Primus (Institute for Artificial Intelligent Systems, University of Johannesburg) and Chido Dzinotyiwei (Vambo AI) for a conversation about African languages, linguistic complexity and ethical and inclusive AI. merltech.org/event-on-aug...

Event on August 14: African languages, linguistic complexity and ethical and inclusive AI - MERL Tech

On August 14, 2025, the NLP-CoP will convene to critically examine Africa’s opportunity in AI—particularly the integration of African languages in emerging technologies.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jul 29

📢 On August 7, we're welcoming tech and human rights policy expert Eva Blum-Dumontet for a conversation about CHAYN’s process of building a feminist AI that embeds trauma-informed principles.

merltech.org/what-does-bu...

What does building a feminist AI look like? A conversation with Chayn - MERL Tech

What does building a feminist AI look like? We're inviting Chayn for a conversation about their process of designing feminist AI tools.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jul 29

We're kicking off the month with a session focused on humanitarian accountability and AI use from a number of critical perspectives/several experts: merltech.org/join-the-hum...

Join the Humanitarian AI+MERL Working Group and CDAC on August 6th to discuss humanitarian accountability needs amidst the growing AI conversation - MERL Tech

Join the Humanitarian AI+MERL Working Group and CDAC on August 6th to discuss humanitarian accountability needs amidst the growing AI conversation

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jul 29

August will be a busy month at the Natural Language Processing Community of Practice! 🧵https://merltech.org/events/

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jul 1

We're launching our AI and Climate Working Group on July 17 at 10 am ET!

Join us if you’d like to hear about and help shape our plans for the rest of the year, as well as discuss all the ways how climate and AI intersect. merltech.org/join-us-on-j...

Join us on July 17 for the Climate + AI Working Group Kick-off Call - MERL Tech

We are launching a new AI and Climate Working Group on July 17! Join if you’d like to discuss all the ways how climate and AI intersect.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jun 30

What can we learn from emerging evidence of GenAI use in Social and Behaviour Change chatbots?

Our NLP-CoP brought together 6 organisations all using GenAI to deploy and evaluate SBC interventions. Here's what we've learned:
merltech.org/what-can-we-...

What can we learn from emerging evidence of GenAI use in Social and Behaviour Change chatbots? - MERL Tech

The SBC & AI Working Group brought together 6 organisations all using GenAI to deploy and evaluate SBC interventions.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jun 17

How are qualitative researchers navigating the use of AI tools by research participants? This month, the Ethics and Governance Working Group (EGWG) at the Natural Language Processing Community of Practice (NLP-CoP) is discussing the use of AI by research respondents.

merltech.org/qualitative-...

Qualitative researchers are not OK: adapting to the use of AI by research respondents - MERL Tech

A conversation about the use of AI tools by research respondents, how this impacts qualitative research, researchers themselves, and how it connects to respondents' agency, and long-standing issues wi...

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · Jun 11

Technosolutionism, magical fixes, and lack of oversight: As one of our speakers noted during our event, “People in leadership positions are moving fast and breaking things, but when we’re talking about people’s lives, that isn’t a good thing.”
merltech.org/event-recap-...

Event recap: “Should we be using AI right now?” A conversation about the ethical challenges of the current moment - MERL Tech

We gathered over 90 members of the NLP-CoP to discuss the ethical challenges of using AI in the current moment. Read the key takeaways.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · May 29

Lastly, we were also featured in Humanitarian AI's podcast, discussing challenges associated with assessing the effectiveness of humanitarian aid activities and activities incorporating applications of artificial intelligence. merltech.org/podcast-asse...

Podcast: Assessing evidence on the effectiveness of humanitarian AI use cases with Humanitarian AI Today - MERL Tech

The MERL Tech Initiative is featured in Humanitarian AI Today latest podcast, focused on assessing evidence on the effectiveness of humanitarian AI use cases.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · May 29

Our new recently published report provides an overview of the use of AI in evaluation with a specific focus on democracy initiatives, and an accompanying policy brief. merltech.org/new-paper-ex...

New paper: Exploring Emerging AI as Subject and Object in Democracy-Focused Evaluation - MERL Tech

We are happy to share our new expert report and policy brief on the use of AI in evaluation, with a specific focus on democracy initiatives.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · May 29

We also shared this brief on Artificial intelligence in the humanitarian sector, in which we synthesize key information about AI’s varied applications for critical humanitarian decision-makers. merltech.org/new-brief-ar...

New brief: Artificial intelligence in the humanitarian sector - MERL Tech

We are excited to share our humanitarian AI brief, synthesizing key information about AI’s applications for humanitarian decision-makers.

MERL Tech Initiative @merltech.bsky.social · May 29

First, this podcast episode featuring Linda Raftree in the REvaluation Podcast. Focusing on the question of whether AI really saves work in evaluation, the talk is available in the following link: merltech.org/revaluation-...

REvaluation week podcast episode: "Does AI really save work in evaluation?" - MERL Tech

A podcast episode on how GenAI is being used in the MERL space, how AI affects our societies and planet, and how we can think critically about AI in our work.