2025 Concordia Annual Summit

Meeting People Where They Are: Designing Solutions That Resonate with Real-World Needs

  • Innovative Technology
Clara Kaluderovic, Michael J. Wolf, Bogi Eliasen, Arun Gupta, Armen Baghdasaryan

Session Summary

Important
Quotations

"AI glasses should be available very quickly to all sorts of organizations, NGOs... that need to have a way of translating what's happening in the physical world into the digital world."
Michael J. Wolf
"Technology is a tool, It's not the aim. That's the most important thing."
Bogi Eliasen
"AI requires no training, It's really about a mindset of experimentation. The digital divide will pale in comparison to the divide that we'll see if we don't get folks playing with AI early on."
Arun Gupta
"Transparency is the key part. All the information which you are providing, it's only yours. There is no one who can buy it. There is no one who can resell it or do some kind of advertising based on your needs."
Armen Baghdasaryan

Key
Takeaways

  • AI Access and Experimentation are Critical for Preventing Digital Divides: AI adoption requires a mindset of experimentation, with sandboxes enabling users and creators to explore solutions early. Without hands-on experience, future divides in AI literacy will far exceed existing digital gaps.
  • Trust Through Transparency is Fundamental for Technology Adoption: User trust depends on transparency, especially in sensitive areas like health, ensuring that personal information remains private and is not used for advertising or resale.
  • Community-Driven Development Outperforms Traditional Approaches: Engaging end users in testing delivers superior results, as local context matters; solutions effective in one location may fail elsewhere, making community involvement essential.
  • Public-Private Collaboration Requires “Dual Citizens”: Effective collaboration depends on individuals who understand both public and private sector cultures, bridging trust deficits and breaking silos to stay at the forefront of technology.
  • Technology Should Be a Tool, Not the Primary Objective: Technology serves as a means to an end, with co-design alongside end users prioritized over finished products. Most challenges can be addressed through existing technology when behavioral change and clear targets are considered, focusing on access, professionalism, and workforce development.
  • Mental Health Must Be Integrated into Wellbeing Solutions: Mental health should be treated as part of overall wellbeing, with capacity building that connects aggregated and individual data to empower personal understanding and action.
  • Young Tech Talent Seeks Experiences, Not Traditional Careers: With less than 6% of tech talent under 30 in public service, pathways for young professionals to engage in mission-driven work are broken, even as this generation anticipates multiple career changes and values experiential opportunities over traditional long-term roles.

Action
Items

  • Establish AI Experimentation Programs: Create accessible sandboxes for diverse users and creators to experiment with AI across sectors, ensuring early access to prevent widening digital divides.

 

  • Implement Transparency Frameworks: Develop clear data usage policies and user control mechanisms to guarantee personal information is neither shared nor sold.

 

  • Launch Community Beta Testing Programs: Release products in beta for community feedback, establishing loops to capture real-world implementation challenges.

 

  • Build Cross-Sector Talent Pipelines: Develop flexible pathways and experience-based opportunities for young tech professionals, training “dual citizens” who bridge public and private sectors to build trust.

 

  • Develop Local Context Strategies: Adapt solutions for regional markets by understanding local needs, constraints, and cultural contexts rather than applying one-size-fits-all approaches.

 

  • Establish Co-Design Methodologies: Use workshops and collaborative frameworks with stakeholders to define clear targets and integrate public-private perspectives before technology deployment.

 

  • Scale Emerging Technology Access: Ensure emerging technologies like AI tools are accessible to NGOs and underserved communities, supported by funding mechanisms for developing markets.

 

  • Integrate Mental Health Across Platforms: Treat mental health as part of overall wellbeing in technology design, with capacity building programs empowering individuals to manage their own health data.

 

  • Create Sustainable Partnership Models: Build financially sustainable, mission-driven collaborations between public and private sectors with long-term frameworks for cooperation.

 

  • Address Global Health Infrastructure Gaps: Establish foundational data infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on access to care, professionalism, and workforce development before deploying advanced AI solutions.

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