Grass is always dark(er) on the other side: Exploring the dark side of artificial intelligence humanitarian supply chain operations

Humanitarian supply chains (HSCs) have undergone significant changes over the years, shifting from traditional systems to more intelligent and, eventually, AI-enabled operations. With technological advancements accelerating across sectors, humanitarian organizations have also begun adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their workflows, improve efficiency, and reduce losses. While much of the existing research has focused on the benefits of AI in business and logistics, there is still limited understanding of its potential downsides—particularly within humanitarian settings. This study addresses that gap by exploring how AI may negatively affect HSC activities, both at the individual (micro) and organizational (macro) levels. To guide our analysis, we draw on the Belief-Action-Outcome (BAO) framework, which helps connect personal and institutional beliefs to actions and resulting outcomes. Humanitarian supply chains operate in complex environments where technology use intersects with human behavior, organizational culture, and social values. To better understand these dynamics, we conducted qualitative interviews with professionals working in humanitarian organizations. These insights allowed us to identify and map various challenges—what we refer to as the “dark side” of AI—onto specific functions within HSC operations. Our findings not only highlight areas of concern but also contribute to the broader application of the BAO model in the humanitarian field.