Claude · California · Rest of World
AI powers citizen-led disaster relief from afar for Venezuela
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After twin earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last month, thousands of people took to social media, pleading for help locating friends and family.
Key facts
- Who knew when the government was going to respond?” Jorge Bastidas, a 31-year-old Venezuelan programmer who lives in Buenos Aires, told Rest of World
- Without AI, “it would have taken me about 24 hours without rest to build something that took me three hours,” Bastidas said
- Jorge Luis Chacón, CEO of AI engineering company Henkki, developed Somos Acompañamiento with religious organization Ministerio de Acompañamiento International, hours after the earthquakes
- Using Claude Opus 4.8, and facial recognition software donated by Mexican company Lab-Co, Bastidas designed the site to load quickly, without requiring users to register or download an app
Summary
Developers and programmers used AI tools like Claude Opus and Replit to rapidly launch websites and applications for disaster relief. The platforms have helped locate missing persons, map hospital capacity, and coordinate aid distribution amid a slow government response. The citizen-led initiatives need human oversight and robust data privacy measures to ensure they remain safe and effective. “Who knew when the government was going to respond?” Jorge Bastidas, a 31-year-old Venezuelan programmer who lives in Buenos Aires, told Rest of World.