The chief executive of UK-based charity Baby’s Sake Trust, Lauren Seagar-Smith, has called on tech and corporate firms not to “leave charities behind” on technological innovation.

Based in Stevenage, Baby’s Sake Trust is a charity dedicated to breaking cycles of domestic abuse and giving babies the best start in life.

At Tech Show London on Wednesday, the chief executive spoke on the integration of AI with health and charity work, suggesting that technology is a potential catalyst for meaningful social transformation.

Seagar-Smith said that while she is currently seeking partnerships to make this happen, few charities seem to be present in tech discussions about innovation.

“Charities are typically resource-constrained, operating with small teams, and heavily dependent on external support and collaborative partnerships,” she added, explaining that charities want to use new technologies to drive positive social impact.

Seagar-Smith advocated for a cautious, phased approach to AI implementation in sensitive, human-centred sectors, emphasising that technology should support, not replace, human interaction and judgement.

“AI is a useful tool, but human judgement, review, and involvement remain essential, especially in sensitive sectors like healthcare and social work,” she said. “While AI tools can be helpful in getting started, they can’t be fully relied upon and require human oversight and careful review, AI still needs tweaking and adjustment,”

She also raised ethical questions about AI in healthcare.

“How comfortable would patients be if an AI takes over a doctor’s empathetic interaction, such as asking ‘are you okay’?”, she asked. “The therapeutic and social work spaces present unique challenges for AI implementation, where human connection, empathy, and nuanced understanding are crucial.”

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