The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) is inviting applications for the Impact AI Fellowship 2027, a ten-week fellowship designed for professionals and researchers interested in understanding the real-world effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on society and the environment. The programme will bring together people working in academia, journalism, civil society organisations, public institutions and companies engaged with AI, sustainability or the public interest.
Running from 16 August to 22 October 2027, the fellowship will give selected participants the opportunity to assess an actual AI application promoted as serving the public good. Fellows will examine its societal and environmental impacts using the Impact AI Method, a structured approach developed through a transdisciplinary research project at HIIG. Participants will receive expert guidance, take part in workshops and peer-learning activities, conduct independent research, and prepare a final impact assessment report.
The fellowship also offers a fixed stipend of €5,000 and includes two in-person weeks in Berlin, Germany. It is intended to help participants develop practical skills in AI impact assessment while contributing evidence to wider discussions about responsible artificial intelligence, sustainability and the public interest.
Applications must be submitted by 15 January 2027.
Overview of the Impact AI Fellowship 2027
The Impact AI Fellowship provides a structured opportunity to investigate how artificial intelligence applications affect people, communities and the environment. Rather than focusing exclusively on an AI system’s technical capabilities, the programme examines the broader consequences of using AI in real-world settings.
The fellowship is organised by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, an institute that conducts research on the relationship between digital technologies and society. Its Impact AI research project has developed a method for examining the effects of AI applications that are intended to produce positive social or environmental outcomes.
The 2027 programme will allow selected fellows to learn this method and apply it to a real AI project. Participants will work through the different stages of an impact assessment, from preparing the research and conducting interviews to analysing data and writing a final report.
The fellowship is particularly relevant to professionals who want to understand whether AI applications achieve their intended benefits, how they affect different groups, and what environmental or social consequences may arise from their implementation.
Key Details at a Glance
- Programme: Impact AI Fellowship 2027
- Organiser: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG)
- Fellowship period: 16 August to 22 October 2027
- Duration: Ten weeks
- Location: Berlin, Germany, with two in-person weeks
- Stipend: Fixed fellowship stipend of €5,000
- Main focus: Assessing the societal and environmental impacts of AI applications
- Research method: Impact AI Method
- Application deadline: 15 January 2027
- Information sessions: 10 November 2026 at 10:00 and 17 November 2026 at 15:00
- Application link: https://lnkd.in/dnnrK4WE
About the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society is the organisation behind the Impact AI Fellowship. Its work focuses on understanding how the internet and digital technologies interact with society, institutions and everyday life.
The institute’s Impact AI project examines how artificial intelligence applications influence society and the environment, particularly when these technologies are presented as solutions to public-interest challenges.
AI is increasingly being used in areas such as environmental protection, public services, research, business operations and social development. Although these applications may offer benefits, their actual effects can vary depending on how they are designed, implemented and used.
An AI application developed to address a social or environmental problem may produce unintended consequences, affect groups differently or create environmental costs that are not immediately apparent. Examining these effects requires more than assessing technical performance or the intentions behind a project.
Through the Impact AI Fellowship, HIIG aims to help participants investigate these questions systematically. Fellows will learn how to assess an AI project in practice, gather evidence about its effects and communicate their findings through a final assessment report.
The programme is conducted through the transdisciplinary Impact AI research project, which works in partnership with Greenpeace Deutschland and Gemeinwohl-Ökonomie Deutschland. The project is funded by VolkswagenStiftung.
What Is the Impact AI Fellowship?
The Impact AI Fellowship is a ten-week learning and research programme in which selected participants investigate one real-world case of an AI application intended to deliver positive outcomes.
The fellowship combines practical research, expert input, workshops, peer exchange and independent work. Participants will receive guidance from the Impact AI research team as they learn and apply the programme’s impact assessment method.
The central activity is the completion of a full assessment of an AI project. Fellows will examine the case, collect relevant information, conduct interviews, analyse the resulting data and prepare a report documenting their findings.
This approach allows participants to move beyond general discussions about whether AI is beneficial and investigate the actual consequences of a specific application.
For example, assessing an AI project for sustainability would involve examining the intended benefits alongside the evidence available about its real-world effects. The assessment would be guided by the Impact AI Method rather than relying only on the claims made by the project’s developers or users.
The fellowship is therefore an opportunity to gain practical experience in investigating the relationship between artificial intelligence, society and the environment.
Objectives of the Impact AI Fellowship 2027
The fellowship centres on developing participants’ ability to evaluate AI applications in a structured and evidence-based way.
Its main objectives include the following.
1. Understanding the real-world impacts of AI
AI applications can influence how people access services, make decisions, use resources and interact with institutions. Their effects may extend beyond their immediate technical purpose.
The fellowship will enable participants to investigate the societal and environmental consequences of a real AI project. This includes examining the evidence surrounding an application rather than assuming that an AI solution automatically produces positive outcomes because it is described as being for the public good.
2. Learning the Impact AI Method
Participants will learn how to use the Impact AI Method, a structured framework developed by the research project at HIIG.
The method provides a systematic approach to assessing the impacts of AI applications. During the fellowship, participants will learn how to apply it to an actual case and use it to organise their research, examine evidence and develop their final assessment.
3. Conducting a complete impact assessment
The fellowship is designed around practical application. Participants will complete an impact assessment covering the research process, interviews, data analysis and final reporting.
This gives fellows the opportunity to experience the different stages involved in evaluating an AI project rather than limiting their participation to theoretical discussions or introductory training.
4. Encouraging collaboration across professional backgrounds
The programme welcomes people working in different professional settings, including academia, journalism, civil society, public institutions and companies.
Bringing together participants with different experiences can support the exchange of ideas about how AI affects society and the environment. The fellowship’s workshops, expert contributions and peer-learning activities will provide opportunities for participants to discuss their work and learn from others.
5. Contributing evidence to public-interest discussions about AI
The programme seeks to generate evidence about the actual effects of AI applications.
By completing an assessment and preparing a final report, fellows will contribute to discussions about AI for sustainability and the public interest. Their work will focus on examining a real case and documenting its impacts through a structured research process.
What Will Fellows Do During the Ten-Week Programme?
The fellowship will run from 16 August to 22 October 2027. Throughout this period, participants will learn the Impact AI Method and use it to conduct a complete assessment of an AI project.
The programme combines independent research with workshops, expert input, peer exchange and support from the Impact AI research team.
1. Learn and apply the Impact AI Method
Fellows will begin by learning how the Impact AI Method works and how it can be used to assess an AI application.
The method will guide the assessment process and provide a structured way to investigate the project’s societal and environmental effects.
Participants will apply what they learn to their selected or assigned case, using the method throughout the research process.
2. Select an AI project for assessment
Participants may propose a specific AI project they would like to investigate. However, proposing a project is not compulsory.
HIIG will support fellows who do not already have a suitable project through a call for cases. This process is intended to help participants identify an appropriate AI application and establish a connection with the project they will assess.
This arrangement provides flexibility for applicants who are interested in AI impact assessment but may not already have direct access to an AI project.
Applicants who have a particular case in mind can consider proposing it as part of their application. Those without a proposed case can still apply, as the programme provides support in identifying a suitable project.
3. Prepare and conduct interviews
Interviews are one of the activities involved in the full impact assessment.
Fellows will prepare for and conduct interviews as part of their investigation. This stage will contribute to the collection of information needed to understand the AI project and examine its impacts.
Participants will need to organise their research around the selected case and gather relevant evidence to support the assessment.
4. Analyse the collected data
After gathering information, fellows will analyse the data collected during the assessment.
This stage will help participants organise their findings and examine the evidence relating to the AI project’s societal and environmental impacts.
The analysis will form part of the process of developing a complete assessment rather than relying on assumptions about the project’s benefits.
5. Write a final assessment report
The final stage includes preparing a report documenting the results of the impact assessment.
Fellows will bring together the research process, interview findings and data analysis to produce a final report on the selected AI application.
Report writing is a central component of the fellowship because it allows participants to communicate their findings in a structured form and contribute evidence to wider discussions about AI, sustainability and the public interest.
6. Participate in workshops and peer exchange
The fellowship will combine independent work with workshops, expert input and opportunities to exchange ideas with other participants.
These activities will provide a setting for fellows to discuss their research, learn from expert contributions and engage with different perspectives on AI impact assessment.
Participants will also receive close guidance and support from the Impact AI research team throughout the programme.
Fellowship Benefits: What Selected Participants Will Receive
The Impact AI Fellowship offers financial support, practical research experience and opportunities to engage with people working across different fields.
1. A fixed stipend of €5,000
Selected fellows will receive a fixed fellowship stipend of €5,000.
This is a stated financial benefit of the programme. Applicants should consult the official fellowship information for any further details about payment arrangements and whether particular expenses are covered.
The stipend should not automatically be interpreted as a salary or as confirmation that travel, accommodation and other costs will be reimbursed separately.
2. Practical experience in AI impact assessment
Fellows will conduct a complete assessment of a real AI project using the Impact AI Method.
This provides practical experience in preparing research, conducting interviews, analysing data and writing a final report.
The experience is relevant to people interested in understanding how AI applications affect society and the environment, including those working in research, journalism, public-interest organisations and related professional fields.
3. Guidance from the Impact AI research team
Participants will receive close guidance and support from the Impact AI research team.
This support will accompany the fellowship’s learning and research activities, helping participants apply the assessment method to their selected cases.
4. Workshops and expert input
The programme includes workshops and contributions from experts.
These activities will help fellows engage with the questions involved in assessing AI applications and support their practical work throughout the ten-week period.
5. Peer exchange and interdisciplinary learning
The fellowship brings together participants working in academia, journalism, civil society organisations, public institutions and companies.
This mix of professional backgrounds creates opportunities to exchange perspectives and learn how different sectors approach AI, sustainability and the public interest.
6. Two in-person weeks in Berlin
The fellowship includes two in-person weeks in Berlin, Germany.
These in-person activities form part of the ten-week programme. Applicants should check the official programme information for details about attendance arrangements, travel requirements and the handling of related expenses.
7. An opportunity to contribute to public-interest research
By assessing an AI application and producing a final report, fellows will contribute evidence to discussions about AI for sustainability and the public interest.
The work will focus on the actual effects of a specific AI project and the importance of examining both societal and environmental impacts.
Who Should Apply for the Impact AI Fellowship 2027?
The fellowship is intended for people working in professional or research settings connected to artificial intelligence, sustainability or the public interest.
The announcement identifies the following groups as potential applicants.
Academics and researchers
People working in universities, research institutions or other academic settings may find the fellowship relevant if their work engages with AI, sustainability or public-interest questions.
The programme offers an opportunity to apply a structured impact assessment method to a real-world case and produce a final research report.
Journalists
Journalists interested in artificial intelligence, technology, sustainability or the effects of digital systems on society may also be suited to the programme.
The fellowship’s emphasis on interviews, evidence gathering, data analysis and reporting may be relevant to professionals who investigate the consequences of technological applications.
Civil society professionals
People working in civil society organisations may apply if their professional work connects with AI, sustainability or the public interest.
The programme provides an opportunity to investigate the effects of an AI project and contribute evidence to discussions about its social and environmental implications.
Public institution professionals
Professionals working in public institutions are among the groups explicitly identified in the announcement.
Those whose work involves AI, sustainability or public-interest issues may find the fellowship relevant to their interests and professional responsibilities.
Professionals working in companies
People working in companies engaged with AI, sustainability or the public interest are also included among the intended applicant groups.
The fellowship may be relevant to professionals who want to understand the real-world effects of AI applications and develop experience in structured impact assessment.
People interested in AI, sustainability and the public interest
Across these professional categories, the main connection is an engagement with AI, sustainability or the public interest.
Applicants should assess how their professional experience and interests relate to the programme’s focus on evaluating the societal and environmental impacts of real-world AI applications.
The announcement does not specify a particular academic degree, minimum number of years of experience, age range or mandatory technical qualification. Applicants should therefore consult the official application page for any additional eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Requirements and Qualifications
The published announcement identifies eligible professional backgrounds and areas of engagement but does not provide a complete list of formal qualification requirements.
Based on the information available in the announcement, prospective applicants should consider the following.
- Professional background: Applicants may come from academia, journalism, civil society organisations, public institutions or companies.
- Relevant areas of work: Applicants should be engaged with AI, sustainability or the public interest.
- Interest in impact assessment: The programme involves examining a real AI application and investigating its societal and environmental effects.
- Research and reporting activities: Fellows will participate in interviews, data analysis and the preparation of a final assessment report.
- Project proposal: Applicants may propose a specific AI project to assess, but this is not compulsory. The programme supports fellows in identifying a suitable case through a call for cases.
- Participation in the programme: The fellowship runs for ten weeks and includes two in-person weeks in Berlin.
These points describe the programme’s stated focus and activities. They should not be treated as a substitute for any additional formal requirements listed in the application portal.
Applicants should also confirm the expected time commitment, language requirements, application documents and arrangements for the in-person weeks before submitting an application.
Is the Impact AI Fellowship Open to International Applicants?
The announcement provided does not specify a nationality restriction or list eligible countries.
It identifies applicants by their professional backgrounds and engagement with AI, sustainability or the public interest rather than naming a particular country or region.
However, the absence of a stated nationality restriction in the announcement does not, by itself, confirm that the programme is open to every nationality. Prospective applicants from outside Germany should check the official application information for the definitive eligibility rules.
For applicants based in Africa, including Kenya, the most relevant questions are whether the official call accepts applications from their country of residence and whether any visa, travel or attendance requirements apply to international fellows.
The programme’s two in-person weeks in Berlin make it especially important for international applicants to verify travel arrangements and any associated financial provisions.
The official announcement does not establish a restriction to Germany, Europe or any particular continent, but applicants should confirm the geographical eligibility rules directly with HIIG before relying on this interpretation.
Important Dates and Application Deadline
Prospective applicants should pay attention to the application deadline, the online information sessions and the fellowship dates.
Application deadline: 15 January 2027
The deadline for the Impact AI Fellowship 2027 is 15 January 2027.
Applicants should aim to complete their applications before the closing date and allow enough time to review the official requirements and prepare the requested materials.
Online information sessions
HIIG has announced two online information sessions for people who want to learn more about the fellowship.
- 10 November 2026 at 10:00
- 17 November 2026 at 15:00
The announcement does not specify the time zone for these sessions. Applicants should confirm the applicable time zone and registration arrangements through the official programme page.
The sessions may be useful for prospective fellows who want to understand the programme before applying or clarify questions about the assessment process.
Fellowship period: 16 August to 22 October 2027
The ten-week fellowship will run from 16 August to 22 October 2027.
Participants should consider their availability during this period, including the two in-person weeks in Berlin, workshops, research activities, interviews and final report preparation.
How to Apply for the Impact AI Fellowship 2027
Interested applicants can begin by reviewing the official fellowship announcement and application information.
Step 1: Visit the official application page.
Use the link below to access the fellowship information and application process:
Step 2: Review the eligibility requirements.
Confirm that your professional background and engagement with AI, sustainability or the public interest fit the programme’s requirements. Check for any additional eligibility conditions that may not be included in the initial announcement.
Step 3: Consider the AI project you would like to assess.
You may propose a specific AI project for the impact assessment. However, this is optional. If you do not have a suitable project in mind, the programme offers support in finding an appropriate case through a call for cases.
Step 4: Read the application instructions carefully.
Check the required application documents, submission procedure, deadlines and any additional information requested by HIIG. The announcement provided does not specify the complete list of documents, so applicants should rely on the official application instructions rather than assume that particular materials are mandatory.
Step 5: Submit your application before the deadline.
Ensure that your application is complete and submitted by 15 January 2027.
Step 6: Attend an information session if you need clarification.
Prospective applicants can look into the online information sessions scheduled for 10 November and 17 November 2026. Confirm the time zone and registration details through the official programme information.
Why AI Impact Assessment Matters
Artificial intelligence is being applied to an increasing range of problems, from environmental management to public services and organisational decision-making. Yet the existence of an AI application does not automatically demonstrate that it delivers positive results.
An application may have intended social benefits while also producing unintended effects. Its consequences may depend on how it is developed, the context in which it is used, the people affected by its decisions and the resources required to operate it.
Environmental effects are also relevant when assessing AI systems. Examining an application’s overall impact means looking beyond its stated purpose and considering the evidence about its consequences.
The Impact AI Fellowship responds to these questions by giving participants a structured method for investigating one real-world case. Through interviews, data analysis and reporting, fellows will assess the effects of an AI project rather than relying only on general assumptions about the technology.
This approach can contribute to more informed discussions about AI for sustainability and the public interest. It also provides participating professionals with direct experience of carrying out a structured impact assessment.
For more fellowship programmes visit OFY website: https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/category/fellowship/
Conclusion
The Impact AI Fellowship 2027 offers a ten-week opportunity for professionals and researchers to investigate the societal and environmental effects of real-world artificial intelligence applications. Organised by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, the programme combines practical research, expert guidance, workshops, peer exchange and independent work.
Selected fellows will learn the Impact AI Method, assess an AI project, conduct interviews, analyse data and prepare a final assessment report. The programme also provides a fixed stipend of €5,000 and includes two in-person weeks in Berlin, Germany.
The fellowship is intended for people working in academia, journalism, civil society organisations, public institutions and companies engaged with AI, sustainability or the public interest. Applicants may propose their own AI project, although the programme can also help them find a suitable case.
Anyone interested in applying should review the official eligibility requirements, confirm the arrangements for international participation where relevant, and prepare their application before the 15 January 2027 deadline.
