The MERL Tech Initiative’s Post

Free AI Course for SME's and Public-Sector Organisations which helps with your AI Act Obligations! ENTIRE EDIH Ireland The European AI Act came into effect on August 1st 2024. Article 4 of the Act places obligations in relation to AI literacy within organisation that provide or deploy AI systems. Specifically, Article 4 says “Providers and deployers of AI systems shall take measures to ensure, to their best extent, a sufficient level of AI literacy of their staff and other persons dealing with the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf, taking into account their technical knowledge, experience, education and training and the context the AI systems are to be used in, and considering the persons or groups of persons on whom the AI systems are to be used.” This course provides a grounding in artificial intelligence, how ethical principles have been developed and applied to AI systems, and how these have informed the development of the AI Act. This course will offer companies a grounding to help them ensure compliance with the AI literacy obligations under the Act. Information about the course: https://lnkd.in/eX4aXeEx Please register your interest, and that of each of your colleagues here: https://shorturl.at/4Jgba

This is a fantastic opportunity for SMEs and the public service to avail of a free course, funded through the #EDIH network, to learn about AI. I am always excited to see creative ideas on helping to raise understanding of AI, so would encourage any SME or Public service body to look at this and try to avail of it if you can. The aim of the course is "On completion of this course attendees will have an appreciation for the principles of AI systems, understand how ethics principles have applied to AI and informed the AI Act. Attendees will have attained a basic level of AI literacy sufficient to assess an AI system against the Seven Key Requirements for Trustworthy AI which underpin the AI Act." #AI, #TrustworthyAI, #AIACT

My Latest Blog Post on Medium! The Imperative of AI Ethics: Safeguarding Our Future Against the Unchecked Evolution of Generative AI and LLMs I’m thrilled to share my new article on Medium where I dive into the crucial topic of AI Ethics. 🌟 From fairness and transparency to addressing bias and accountability, this blog covers key ethical considerations in AI development. 🔍 Why This Matters: Understand the ethical frameworks shaping AI. Discover actionable steps for responsible AI practices. Join the conversation on ensuring AI benefits all. 💡 Read More & Share Your Thoughts! Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gGKeiwcf I look forward to hearing your insights and engaging in meaningful discussions on this important issue. #AI #Ethics #AIEthics #ArtificialIntelligence #ResponsibleAI

As AI assistants become more like companions than tools, a recent paper, "The Ethics of Advanced AI Assistants," got me thinking. The potential is exciting, but the ethical implications raise some red flags. Here's where Iason Gabriel, Shannon Vallor, and I see the biggest concerns: • Value alignment: Can AI assistants truly understand and prioritize what matters most to us? • Is it ethical to design AI that feels human if it's not truly sentient? Transparency is key, but where's the line? • Human disconnect: Could over-reliance on these assistants weaken our ability to connect with others authentically? The paper proposes a framework based on four values: benefit, human flourishing, autonomy, and care. It also questions whether current corporate structures can handle the ethical weight of AI development. This is a conversation we NEED to have. What ethical considerations do you find most important when it comes to AI assistants? #AI #Ethics #Technology #FutureofWork

For those in Latin America and the Caribbean, this blog post covering the  Declaración de Santiago is a must read!

Camille Aouinaït’s point of view: The author Yoann Bazin smartly highlights the necessity of deeply understand the underlying technology of Artificial Intelligence, especially on an ethical point of view. In a current rising use of AI within many sectors, it is now crucial to sustain its development to make it more sustainable. In this article, the author outlined three elements for defining AI ethics: training datasets and the resulting ‘Patterns in – Ethics out’, style adjustment and ethics settings integration. I invite you to read this brilliant article on a trendy topic and and above all on a subject that's more than important in a connected world. https://lnkd.in/eq5cRuii Research Network on Innovation #FocusonJIEM

AI (Authentic Insights) the past week with AI experts from 🇺🇸 , Jessica Zosa Forde and James Pavur. In short … a fantastic combination of insights—James brought a strong focus on AI policy & regulation, which perfectly complemented Jessica’s research and science-driven perspective. Jessica’s deep dive into the research behind AI, particularly around multilingual AI, AI ethics, & environmental impacts of AI was well received. Jessica’s keynote at the AI Summit on how LLMs can support diverse and indigenous languages was a hit. Her expertise in deep learning & AI ethics was well-received across multiple sectors. Throughout the week, Jessica & James had meetings at University of Auckland, Media Design School, Tupu toa, and AcademyEX, diving into topics like AI ethics, youth engagement, & indigenous languages within LLM datasets. In Wellington, the day started at WētāFX - an interview w/ CTO Kimball Thurston, then they met with Māori business leaders with an engaging discussion on data sovereignty with Te Matarau a Māui, which lasted for over 2.5 hours—demonstrating the importance & complexity of AI & indigenous data. Off to Parliament after that, meeting with the Cross-Party AI Group, with many MPs attending to discuss the role of AI in social good & regulation. The Datacom panel discussion was also well received. Both James & Jessica wrapped up their visit with a session at Victoria Uni with researchers, where she pivoted her talk to focus on auditing LLMs & the challenges in ensuring transparency & fairness. It was a well-received & highly interactive discussion, leaving everyone w/ a lot to think about, especially around the control Big Tech in many areas including data storage/LLM collection of data, but also auditing (it’s difficult for researchers to gain access for audits). Many connections made for both Jessica & James that will definitely result in further discussions academically & from a policy standpoint between the U.S. & NZ Have a listen below on their reflections while here in Aotearoa (a snippet of a full podcast). Some links: Some of Jessica Zosa Forde’s AI research: https://lnkd.in/g67zGVQP As mentioned by James: Executive Order (EO) on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (one of the longest EOs in U.S. history) https://lnkd.in/gK4csiuN Oracle is designing a data center that would be powered by three small nuclear reactors! https://lnkd.in/gz5Jkh6X Movies: https://lnkd.in/gFfjNr2g Also my infamous custom pie GPT (finds the best pies with local Insights with pie jokes and facts), mentioned at a few of the meetings during the week (once by me) 🥧: https://lnkd.in/gidrv68Q TupuToa Te Matarau a Māui Media Design School The University of Auckland Victoria University of Wellington academyEX AI Forum NZ Weta Digital

Time to kick off the work week by diving into what it takes to build responsible AI.💡 As AI continues to shape how we interact with data—whether through analysis or creation with generative AI, as we touched on last week—the need for responsible use is becoming more critical. But how do we define responsibility in AI, and what does a practical solution look like? As an organization committed to moving responsibly without stifling innovation, we’re outlining the path to responsible AI and striving for better outcomes. What do you think needs to happen? Share your thoughts in the comments 👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/gJEUGwBD #responsibleAI #machinelearning #artificialintelligence #innovation #ethics #ethicalAI #development #solutiondevelopment #canada

In my latest book on AI ethics, I have examined the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), which has highlighted the urgent need for robust governance frameworks. Given the critical nature of this issue, I was encouraged to read and analyse the United Nations' Governing AI for Humanity report. In my view, this document lays the foundation for addressing the ethical, social, and economic risks brought by AI, which have been areas of global concern. I welcome it as a significant step forward in addressing the governance challenges AI presents, particularly as the growing power imbalance between global tech corporations and nation-states intensifies. The report highlights a key issue I have been researching on: the concentration of power within a few dominant technology corporations, such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. These entities control vast computational infrastructure and access to global data, both essential for developing advanced AI systems. Their dominance enables them to shape markets and public policy, raising serious concerns about the erosion of national sovereignty and accountability. This paradox, where international governance efforts exist but are overshadowed by corporate dominance, poses significant challenges for global equity and ethical AI development. There is a need for collective action from governments, corporations, and civil society to address these imbalances and ensure that AI governance reflects the wider public interest. Once again here is the paradox. How can governments, often outrun by technological advancements, regain control? What frameworks can ensure that corporate interests do not constantly override the needs of public interests? International collaboration and substantial funding for public AI infrastructure can be the key for catching up with AI development. AI development is inevitable, but I still maintain that there are far more opportunities than challenges if we act strategically and in moderation as a global community. If we rise to the challenge and commit to responsible and ethical AI governance, as outlined in the UN’s report, we can shape a future where AI benefits all – corporations, governments, organisations and most importantly citizens. The alternative is to allow profit-driven corporate dominance to continue shaping the rules of engagement and continue treating citizens as products. Will we continue to leave AI governance unchecked? The answer to this question will define AI’s role in the years ahead. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/eA4BuaiU #AIGovernance #UnitedNations #GlobalAI #AIEthics #AIRegulation #AIPolicy #UNAIReport #ResponsibleAI #AIForGood #SustainableDevelopment #AIInclusion #DigitalDivide #AIRisks #AIBenefits #TechDiplomacy #GlobalTechnology #AIInnovation #FutureOfAI #InternationalCooperation #AIStandards

🤖 Promoting Ethical AI: Global Forum Drives New Principles UNESCO reports on the 2nd Global Forum for AI: - Over 80 countries involved - Focus on ethical AI use across industries - Calls for more diverse AI policies 💡 Why This Matters: - Enhances global cooperation on AI ethics - Aims to reduce biases in AI systems - Seeks equitable tech benefits for all users 📊 Dive deeper into the research here: https://lnkd.in/eNqCJgzP How do you think diverse perspectives can shape AI ethics? #AIEthics #ResponsibleAI #AIAccountability