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The humanitarian sector continues to face deep funding shortfalls and structural change amid accelerating global AI developments. AI is embedded in the humanitarian ecosystem, but largely driven by individual uptake of commercial tools. Working with vulnerable populations and sensitive data – and the imperative to do no harm – means responsible AI adoption and skills development are critical challenges for the sector.
This briefing note presents key insights from the Humanitarian AI January 2026 pulse survey, conducted by the Humanitarian Leadership Academy and Data Friendly Space, representing the first follow-up to the 2025 global foundational study. The pulse survey generated 1,729 responses from 120+ countries and confirms the deepening of the Humanitarian AI paradox identified in the 2025 research: individual AI uptake continues to outpace organisational readiness, and the emergence of agentic AI is adding further complexity. Individual conviction in AI's benefits has surged – yet expertise and organisational integration remain largely static, pointing to an urgent need for action across AI literacy and skilling, governance, organisational integration, and regional equity.