May 29, 2026
Can AI Transform Global Health? Promise, Progress, and Reality
Harvard Global Health Institute
Friday, May 29, 2026, 9:00 a.m.
This session examines the state of AI in global health through a central question: with governments and donors now actively shaping AI policy for health, how do we ensure the evidence base and frontline capacity keep pace with the speed of deployment, and where does hype outpace the evidence? Speakers will explore persistent gaps in health systems, from workforce shortages and delayed diagnostics to fragmented data systems and outbreak preparedness, alongside the growing landscape of AI applications designed to address them. The discussion will critically examine recurring misalignments between donor priorities, technology development, and frontline health worker needs, while also considering the practical realities that shape implementation.
Speakers:
- Rose Nakasi, PhD, Head of the Makerere Artificial Intelligence Health Lab
- Sameer Pujari, AI Lead, Global Digital Health Strategy & Governance, World Health Organization; Vice Chair, ITU–WHO Focus Group on AI 4 Health
Moderator:
- Matthew Bonds, PhD, Associate Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Co-Founder & Scientific Director of PIVOT
