Earlier this week, I attended the FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute conference in Brussels. As always, here’s a brief recap for those who couldn’t make it.
Cecile Huet opened the event with insights into the EU's vision for fostering AI-driven innovation. Beyond the significant investments in computing power and European data spaces, what stood out to me was the emphasis on innovation-friendly policies, particularly for startups. This focus on reducing barriers to creating groundbreaking AI solutions feels essential for driving the meaningful progress we need in the EU.
Martin Kotthaus, in his opening remarks, provided a thoughtful perspective on AI’s dual nature—its immense opportunities and inherent risks. In a field often dominated by polarized views, his balanced approach was refreshing. Striking the right balance between embracing opportunities and mitigating risks is a conversation we need to have more often.
Mireille Hildebrandt, FBA delivered a keynote that critically examined the concept of "AI for the common good." Rather than focusing solely on AI itself, she explored how we define notions of “common” and “good.” Her perspective opened the door to discussions beyond GDP growth—emphasizing the importance of using AI to strengthen governance and societal well-being. In other words: the language we use and the frameworks we adopt when discussing AI are crucial.
Paul Duan from Bayes Impact shared his experience implementing AI projects in collaboration with NGOs and the public sector. He talked about the concept of “death by a thousand pilots,” which resonated strongly with both the audience and other speakers. While pilots are essential, AI solutions eventully need to move beyond testing phases and into the real-world implementation.
Anna Colom, PhD from datatank.org tackled the narratives we build around AI. She urged us to move away from solely deterministic or techno-solutionist perspectives, which often shape how we approach and evaluate AI. A particularly striking quote from her talk was: “Lived experience is an essential type of expertise.” This deeply resonated with me, as it aligns with my work at Best Goed studio. Hearing it articulated so well was inspiring.
While there were many other engaging speakers at the conference, I hope this recap offers a glimpse into some of the key ideas and discussions.
