Artificial intelligence is already shaping how people seek health information. People are asking AI about HIV. About risk. About testing. About privacy.

The question is not whether AI will influence HIV prevention. The question is: Who shapes it - and how?

Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is launching the Burnett Innovation Challenge to explore how AI can responsibly support HIV prevention and care - without compromising dignity, privacy or cultural sovereignty.

We are not waiting to see what AI does to us, we are shaping what AI does for us.

Why this matters

HIV has never been a simple public health issue. It sits at the intersection of:

• Sexuality
• Culture
• Migration
• Misinformation
• Power
• Stigma

AI now enters that intersection. AI systems can:

• Amplify bias
• Spread misinformation
• Expose vulnerability

Or they can be designed differently.

Aotearoa is closer than ever to achieving zero HIV transmission. Biomedical tools are highly effective. The remaining barriers are social, behavioural and digital - including stigma and trust.

Responsible innovation could help us get there.

What is the Innovation Challenge?

The Burnett Innovation Challenge will fund two selected concepts to develop AI-enabled tools that operate safely within high-trust environments. Each selected team will receive:

• Seed funding (approximately $30,000 per concept)
• Access to epidemiological insight and domain expertise
• Structured engagement with community-informed perspectives
• Clear ethical and privacy guardrails
• Respect for Māori and Pacific data sovereignty

This is not about surveillance. It is about building trust-led innovation grounded in care.

Who we’re seeking

We are looking for a small number of serious innovators who understand that complexity is not a barrier - it is the design brief. We welcome:

• AI and tech founders
• Digital health startups
• Engineers and data scientists
• UX and product teams
• Social impact technologists
• University labs and research groups

If you are building responsibly in AI and want to work where public health, stigma and technology collide - we want to talk with you.

Solutions developed through this Challenge may have applicability beyond HIV - into mental health, sexual health and other high-trust domains globally.

Join us for an online briefing

We are hosting two online sessions to outline the Challenge, expectations and application process on Tuesday 25 March.

• 12:00–1:00pm
• 5:30–6:30pm

Register by emailing [email protected] to attend an online briefing and learn how you can participate.

Our commitments

Trust is fragile. Innovation must strengthen it - not undermine it. Throughout this challenge, we are committed to ensuring that:

• Our services and support for clients remain unchanged.
• Community voice is embedded from the beginning.
• Privacy and dignity are non-negotiable.
• Te Tiriti and data sovereignty principles are foundational.
• Zero HIV transmission in Aotearoa remains our goal.