Using AI to improve refugee integration

Using machine learning and optimisation to find refugees' new homes can significantly improve their chances of finding work within three months, according to new research. The international collaboration, conducted by researchers at the Universities of Oxford and Lund, Sweden as well as the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, involved developing Annie MOORE, an AI-powered software. The tech uses complex computational tools to match refugees to a given location by their needs, skills and the number of available resources and opportunities available. The software not only optimises the likelihood of someone finding employment within three months, by over 20 percent, but also significantly improves the chances of them settling into - and therefore becoming a benefit to, the wider community. Although the main measure of a successful settlement is an individual finding a job, the software also ensures that the needs of refugees, such as whether they need language support or are perhaps a single-parent, are met. Dr Alex Teytelboym, co-author and Associate Professor of Economics, said: 'Refugee resettlement is a complex humanitarian problem that cannot be solved with a single quick-fix. The manual resettlement process was riddled with issues, not least the sheer volume of cases that are processed each week - we are talking hundreds.