Ensuring a human rights focus when using AI in due diligence

Companies need to conduct human rights due diligence on AI, including tools used within those processes, as highlighted by the recent UN Working Group report. AI tools can support human rights and environmental due diligence by processing data such as supply chain mapping, satellite imagery, and stakeholder feedback, but they require critical assessment. These tools should complement, not replace, human judgement, contextual analysis, or engagement with rights holders, and trained human rights practitioners are important to reduce risks. To use AI tools responsibly, organisations should question their purpose, examine methodology and data inputs, interpret outputs carefully, and align their approach with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Source: adapted from GBI, August 2025.