AI-driven platform is revolutionizing global supply chain transparency.
One powerful application of AI is in supply chain transparency. Tools like Altana Atlas (used by U.S. Customs and companies like Maersk) leverage AI to track complex supply chains, ensuring that companies comply with regulations such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). By flagging goods potentially linked to forced labor, especially in regions like Xinjiang, AI enables companies to take proactive steps toward ethical sourcing and human rights compliance and root out forced labor ensuring compliance with sanctions regimes.
As shown, AI can play a pivotal role in identifying and mitigating human rights violations, such as forced labour, unsafe working conditions, and unfair wages, by analysing large datasets across the supply chain.
AI excels at analysing large datasets, identifying patterns and extracting meaningful insights and then generating hypotheses and recommendations based on those insights to support executives, analysts, researchers and other professionals in making smarter, data-driven decisions. For example, AI can analyse data on worker hours, wages, and safety reports to identify signs of labour exploitation or unsafe working environments.
Additionally, AI can assess the risk profiles of suppliers by evaluating their past records and comparing them with industry benchmarks, helping companies make more informed decisions about their partnerships.
On the positive side, organizations like the UN are advocating for AI governance frameworks that prioritize human rights. Initiatives like UNESCO’s AI ethics guidelines highlight the need for inclusive AI development that respects freedom and dignity.
While AI has immense potential to assess human rights risks, its ethical use depends on transparent governance, diverse datasets, and accountability. Ensuring that AI enhances, rather than harms, human rights will require a collaborative effort from governments, tech companies, and civil society.
The data used must be accurate and diverse to ensure fair and effective risk management. There is also the need for transparency in AI algorithms to prevent opaque decision-making processes that could overlook or misinterpret human rights issues. Also, companies must pair AI with strong governance frameworks and human oversight to ensure that technology is used responsibly and effectively in managing human rights risks within the supply chain.
Whilst Unchained is a professional services firm specialising in advising and supporting organisations to implement robust governance and risk management frameworks to monitor and report on human rights violations including modern slavery and human trafficking, we also partner with AI solution platforms who provide complementary solutions to our core offerings. Contact us for more information at info@unchained solutions.com.au
