Bridging the Gap: Human Connectors in AI-Powered Peacebuilding

The success and failure of Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects hinge not just on the technology itself, but on an often-overlooked factor: the presence and effectiveness of what this report calls the ‘bridge role’. This type of role is not new. In fact, different versions of this role have existed in different disciplines at different times, and have always been necessary for any type of digital transformation (Henriette et al., 2016, pp. 4–6). What makes these roles important now is that we are at an inflection point in the adoption of AI, and this shift is being acutely felt in the world of peacebuilding. As AI applications proliferate, from conflict prediction systems to automated translation tools, to data analysis platforms, peacebuilding organisations face a critical challenge: how to responsibly implement these powerful but often opaque technologies in contexts defined by sensitivity, stakes, and complexity. The challenge is fundamentally one of bridging worlds. The AI and technology sector operates with its own methodologies, terminologies and culture that can seem foreign to people working in peacebuilding, peace research or diplomatic circles. Likewise, peacebuilding domains have developed their own ways of working, grounded in relationship-building, context sensitivity, and ethical considerations that can seem frustratingly slow or imprecise to software developers and data engineers. When these worlds must collaborate, miscommunication and misalignment are almost inevitable. AI systems deployed in peacebuilding contexts require not just technical excellence but also deep understanding of conflict dynamics, power relations, and local legitimacy. Without effective bridges between these domains, even the most technically sophisticated projects risk failure.