The Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) programme was commissioned by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Research and Evidence Division to undertake a pilot of artificial intelligence (AI) research tools and their application in the work of the K4DD programme.
This pilot explored the application of tools across different types of K4DD outputs (namely, evidence summaries, rapid evidence reviews, annotated bibliographies, and emerging issues reports).
The results indicated that AI tools have utility, particularly in the initial ideation stage, but their contribution is currently limited, especially for complex or multifaceted queries. The tools were most useful for supporting subject immersion and familiarisation but were less effective in producing high-quality, valid, relevant, and verifiable information at speed.
This report is based on 20 days of research carried out between October 2024 and March 2025.
