# Cómo usar IA para tener impacto social | Sonia Jalfin | TEDxRiodelaPlata

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDixz2Cp2Zw
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/MDixz2Cp2Zw
Generated: 2026-03-02T19:30:36.623+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Sonia Jalfin argues that Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be intentionally guided by human values and ethical considerations, such as reducing inequality and promoting education, rather than being left to its own devices, citing examples where organizations like BID and Mennonite Engage are actively working with AI to achieve social impact, which is crucial because unchecked AI development can lead to negative consequences like spreading disinformation.

**Key Points:**
- AI is currently creating new actions and is already being used by organizations like BID and Mennonite Engage to promote social impact, such as reducing poverty and inequality.
- Organizations like BID (with 66 years of history in Latin America) and Mennonite Engage (working with refugees in Kenya) successfully use AI to assist vulnerable populations.
- The speaker emphasizes that relying solely on AI without human guidance, or leaving it to operate without ethical controls, is dangerous.
- The development of AI models, exemplified by organizations like Shacker-in-Health answering 6,000 questions daily for pregnant women in Kenya, is heavily biased or skewed if not intentionally directed.
- The speaker proposes inventing new, audacious, and consistent actions that leverage AI to improve life for everyone, rather than just using it to solve existing problems.
- The inherent bias in current AI models means they may not know how to respond to certain problems, necessitating human intervention and ethical framing.

![Screenshot at 00:21: The speaker, Sonia Jalfin, gestures while standing on the TEDx stage with a background image of a keyboard being degraded by black, ink-like splatters, symbolizing the potential negative consequences or biases of unchecked digital action, setting the stage for the discussion on responsible AI use.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MDixz2Cp2Zw/00-00-21.jpg)

**Context:** Sonia Jalfin delivers this TEDxRiodelaPlata talk focusing on the critical role of human intention and ethics in shaping the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). She contrasts the potential for AI to create new social actions with the risk of its unguided deployment, highlighting how established organizations are already integrating AI to address major social issues like poverty and inequality, emphasizing that the technology itself is neutral but its application requires careful direction.

## Detailed Analysis

Sonia Jalfin asserts that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is actively generating new actions, and it is imperative that these actions align with human values to achieve positive social impact, rather than being left to develop autonomously, which can be perilous. She provides concrete examples of successful cross-disciplinary efforts: the Inter-American Development Bank (BID), with 66 years of history, uses AI to reduce poverty and inequality, and Mennonite Engage employs it to support refugees. Furthermore, Shacker-in-Health utilizes AI to answer 6,000 daily questions for pregnant women in Kenya, connecting them with medical care when needed. Jalfin stresses that the effectiveness of these initiatives, whether in development or policy, depends on human guidance; otherwise, the algorithms and base models remain biased, leading to potentially harmful outcomes like spreading disinformation or hacking institutions. She concludes by urging the audience to invent new, bold actions that harness this powerful technology for collective good, noting that the inherent biases in current AI mean they are not equipped to solve every problem without human input.

### AI's Current Role

- AI is creating new actions; examples include BID reducing poverty and Mennonite Engage aiding refugees
- AI is already used for social good, but requires human-guided direction.

### Case Studies in Social Impact

- BID has 66 years of history applied to Latin America; Shacker-in-Health answers 6,000 daily questions for pregnant women in Kenya, connecting them to doctors.

### The Danger of Unchecked AI

- Leaving AI development alone is dangerous; existing models are biased, potentially leading to spreading hate speech or hacking institutions.

### The Path Forward

- We must invent new, audacious, and consequent actions that leverage AI for the good of all, rather than just applying it to existing problems.

![Screenshot at 00:03: Red 'X' graphic transitioning to the TEDxRiodelaPlata logo, marking the start of the presentation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MDixz2Cp2Zw/00-00-03.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:21: The speaker on stage with a large background graphic of a damaged keyboard, symbolizing the risks associated with digital actions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MDixz2Cp2Zw/00-00-21.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:47: Wide shot showing the speaker on the red circular stage with the large TEDx RíodelaPlata branding and the audience dimly lit in blue.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MDixz2Cp2Zw/00-00-47.jpg)
![Screenshot at 01:01: Close-up on the screen displaying the damaged keyboard graphic while the speaker is presenting.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MDixz2Cp2Zw/00-01-01.jpg)
![Screenshot at 03:51: The speaker gesturing widely while discussing the organizations like 'chicas y grandes' experimenting with AI.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MDixz2Cp2Zw/00-03-51.jpg)
