FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute

Policymakers and AI researchers: we would like to extend an invitation for lunch to discuss the European Union’s establishment of AI regulatory sandboxes under the recently adopted AI Act. 💫 This event, hosted by FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute in collaboration with the Research Group on Law, Science, Technology & Society (LSTS), will officially launch Nathan Genicot’s report “From Blueprint to Reality: Implementing AI Regulatory Sandboxes under the AI Act.” We will discuss: - The legal framework for AI regulatory sandboxes under the AI Act - Existing sandbox initiatives across Europe - Recommendations for developing an AI regulatory sandbox in Belgium The session will open with a networking lunch, followed by a presentation of the report and a panel discussion featuring expert speakers who will share their insights and experiences. If you’d like to engage with AI policymakers in the field of AI regulation or learn about the practical implementation of AI regulatory sandboxes, this event is perfect for you. If you’re interested in joining, we welcome you to register here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eUsYW7_9 🗓 Date: Tuesday, December 17 ⏰ Time: 12:00 – 14:00 📍 Location: FARI Auditorium, Cantersteen 16, 1000 Brussels Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Université libre de Bruxelles - VUB TechTransfer - Carl-Maria MÖRCH - Hans De Canck - ULB Research & Innovation

🌟 Welcome to the Team, Lore Stanson! 🌟 We would like to introduce our new AI Academy Program Lead at FARI! With a Master’s in Educational Sciences from VUB and experience as a project and program manager at FTI and Festival Leuven, Lore has a proven track record of fostering collaboration across communities to explore how technology can shape a better future. Her passion and expertise will assist our mission to put the common good at the heart of AI, data, and robotics research. In Lore’s words: “Excited to step into my role as Program Lead for the AI Academy. My mission? Empowering people from diverse backgrounds to explore AI’s potential and giving them the tools to use it for the common good. I’ll facilitate tailored educational journeys and will be driving efforts toward a future where AI is accessible, ethical, and impactful. Let’s make it happen!” We’re thrilled to have Lore on board and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in her new role. Please join us in welcoming Lore to the FARI community! 🎉

At our recent FARI AI Happy Hour, Patrick A. Van der Spiegel, PhD candidate at FARI and Artificial Intelligence Lab Brussels, shared insights into AI-driven anomaly detection. He explored questions that touch on both technology and ethics: → How do we define "normal" behavior? → When does a deviation become significant? → How can AI help us identify these anomalies, and what happens when mistakes occur? Through practical examples, Patrick highlighted the challenges of detecting anomalies, such as working with imbalanced datasets and handling unpredictable patterns. He also addressed the risks of errors: → False positives: flagging normal events as anomalies. → False negatives: overlooking true anomalies. The discussion underscored the importance of human oversight and the need to weigh the consequences of these errors carefully, as they can have real-world impacts. A key takeaway was the reminder to move beyond the hype surrounding AI and focus on its context-driven applications and limitations. A big thank you to Patrick for leading this compelling session and to everyone who joined us for the discussion! The FARI AI Happy Hours will return in 2025, taking place every last Monday of the month. Don’t miss out on future announcements—register for our newsletter and stay informed: https://lnkd.in/dC-NMGfK Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Université libre de Bruxelles - Karen Boers - Laura Jousset - Sezen Avci - Lore Stanson - Gregory Lewkowicz - Tom Lenaerts

#FARI2024 | Highlights from FARI Brussels Conference – Day 2 🌟 Our FARI Partners Day was a dynamic and insightful journey under the theme, “AI, a Public Good?” held in BeCentral. 💡 The day was packed with workshops, roundtables, matchmaking events, and pitch sessions, bringing together experts to explore topics such as sandboxes, GovTech, digital twins, AI & democracy, and much more. Together with our partners—European Commission, CAIRNE, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, SustAIn.brussels, Make.org, GLUON BXL , VUB Business Development Academy, Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI), Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities (OASC), ifok GmbH, SIPRI, Eurocities, hub.brussels, and The Data Tank—we drove impactful discussions and collaborations shaping the future of #AI for the common good. 📸 Check out some snapshots from the day and relive the moments of connection, learning, and innovation! © Thierry Geenen / FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute Brussels Let us know in the comments which session or topic inspired you most! 🚀 Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Université libre de Bruxelles - ULB Research & Innovation - VUB Research - VUB TechTransfer - Hans De Canck - Carl-Maria MÖRCH - Lea Rogliano - Martin Canter - Laura Jousset - Susheel Nath - Sezen Avci - Kenneth Hannaert - Ida Velthoven - Diana R. - Jules Palayer - Anna Colom, PhD - Kathlijn Fruithof - Ivy Yang, PhD - Hendrik Nahr - Aleksandra Zaniewska - Geoffrey Aerts

#FARI2024 | Highlights 📸 The FARI Brussels Conference 2024 took place already one week ago! We are thrilled to share that the photos from the FARI Brussels Conference 2024 are now available. Over 800 attendees joined us for two unforgettable days of insights, discussions, and innovation on the ethical and societal impacts of AI, data, and robotics. 🙌 A big thank you to our speakers, partners, and attendees for making this event a success with your expertise, engagement, and energy. 👉 Check out the photos from November 18 and relive the highlights: https://lnkd.in/enx7WqCS © Thierry Geenen / FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute Brussels #AI #Robotics #Brussels #Innovation #ThankYou - Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Université libre de Bruxelles - VUB Research - ULB Research & Innovation - Hans De Canck - Karen Boers - Carl-Maria MÖRCH - Laura Jousset - Sezen Avci - Kenneth Hannaert - hub.brussels - La France en Belgique - visitbrussels - Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique - Nederlandse ambassade in België - RoboRana Group - Cronos Public Services NV - Cronos.AI | Enterprise AI - BeCentral - CAIRNE

We are thrilled to share that over 800 attendees joined us for the FARI Brussels Conference 2024 across two days! 🙌 A heartfelt thank you to all our speakers and partners for their invaluable contributions to making this event a success. Your insights, expertise, and collaboration were key to driving forward the discussions on the ethical and societal impacts of AI, data, and robotics. 🚀 We also want to extend special thanks to all our attendees. Your engagement, thoughtful questions, and eagerness to explore the future of AI made this event truly memorable. We are grateful for the collective energy you brought to the conference! Our panels featured 49% women, and we were thrilled to see this echoed in the audience, where 44% of attendees were women—a rare milestone for events in tech and research. 👩💻👩🔬 This aligns with clear evidence that gender diversity enhances the quality of science and research (see the study in comments: Gender diversity leads to better science). While achieving true gender representation remains a long journey, every step forward is significant. We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a more inclusive future, together. 💡 To everyone who contributed to making this possible—thank you! Let’s keep pushing boundaries and shaping a tech and research community that reflects the diversity of the world we live in 💪 Karen Boers Carl-Maria MÖRCH Hans De Canck Laurence Renault Laura Jousset Sezen Avci Vrije Universiteit Brussel Université libre de Bruxelles VUB Research ULB Research & Innovation

#FARI2024 | Step into the FARI Brussels Conference 2024! Missed the event? 🌟 Catch the highlights and experience the energy of November 18 with this short video. From inspiring panel discussions, keynotes to hands-on demos and art room, we explored how AI, data, and robotics can serve the public good. ⤵️

#FARI2024 | 🔍 Catch Up on Prof. Emerita Mireille Hildebrandt, FBA's Inspiring Keynote! At the FARI Brussels Conference 2024, Prof. Emerita Mireille Hildebrandt (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) shared critical insights on AI for the Public Good. She explored what problems #AI can truly solve, the challenges it can't, and the risks it may create. Highlighting the value of slow and thoughtful innovation, her talk urges us to focus on resilient, responsible AI that prioritizes long-term societal impact over rapid gains. Don't miss her presentation ⤵️

Curious about how #AI can detect what’s out of the ordinary? 🧐 Join us for the final AI Happy Hour of 2024! This in-person event is a chance to network and learn how AI plays a role in spotting unusual patterns and behaviors in our daily lives. 📅 Date: Monday, 25 November 🕠 Time: 17:30 📍 Location: FARI Test and Experience Center, Cantersteen 16, 1000 Brussels Patrick A. Van der Spiegel, PhD candidate at FARI and VUB’s Artificial Intelligence Lab Brussels, will guide us through the topic of anomaly detection in AI. We will tackle essential questions, like what defines 'normal' behavior, when deviations matter, and the origins of these anomalies. This session will demystify how AI algorithms observe, analyze, and detect deviations from everyday patterns and explore the impact of mistakes and false detections. Limited spots available – secure yours today: https://lnkd.in/ee6Nzzkf Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Karen Boers - Sezen Avci - Laura Jousset #AIHappyHour #FARI #brussels

#FARI2024 | The AI Sandbox Summit addressed the regulation of artificial intelligence systems in Europe. Organized by the Brussels and Swiss CAIRNE offices, with the support of FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute, this summit brought together stakeholders involved in AI-related regulatory and innovation sandboxes. AI sandboxes provide a controlled environment for testing innovative products, offering a unique opportunity for organizations to drive AI innovation responsibly, while ensuring user protection. However, the challenges of establishing and operating these sandboxes remain complex and are not yet fully understood. The summit served as a platform for sharing insights and experiences across European member states. It also produced actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening innovation environments for AI, in line with EU AI regulations. These discussions are key for shaping future innovation programs that balance progress and responsibility in AI development. At the AI Sandbox Summit, experts discussed AI regulation and shared insights & best practices to drive innovation responsibly in Europe. Thank you to all who contributed! #AI #FARI2024