Advancing AI Governance: Insights from the AI4People Institute’s Conversation on th AI Act

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024
10:00-12:00 EST | 16:00-18:00 CET
DIGITAL EVENT

ADVANCING AI GOVERNANCE: INSIGHTS FROM THE AI4PEOPLE INSTITUTE’S CONVERSATION ON THE AI ACT

The first panel of speakers at the latest AI4People Institute event – AI4People Institute’s Conversation on the AI ACT – addressed the topic of where we are in implementing AI rules emerging from the European Union’s AI Act.

The vehicle that law offers for ethical behaviour varies depending on whether it’s international public law in a treaty, the specific framework of the EU legal order, domestic legislation, or company rules. In many ways, the AI Act is going to lead a more innovative framing of innovation than previous legislations, such as the Digital Markets Act or the GDPR. It’s partly because of the nature of the technology, but also because of the speed of innovation.

The second part of the event featured a presentation by the core group of authors of the latest AI4People Institute’s report on ethics by design.

PROGRAM

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024 | 10:00-12:00 EST | 16:00-18:00 CET | DIGITAL EVENT


AI ACT – NEXT STEPS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
The priorities for the European Commission and the AI Office
A perspective from the Council of Europe

Together with key stakeholders from academia, business, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Europe the meeting will look at the next phase of implementation of the AI Act. It will also focus on the practical consequences for businesses and the priorities for the European Commission and the AI Office.

  • Robert Madelin | Chairman Advisory Board AI4People Limited, former Director-General DG Connect, European Commission
  • Luciano Floridi | Director Digital Ethics Center, Yale University, first Chairman Scientific Committee AI4People Institute
  • Dragos Tudorache | Member of the European Parliament, Chair Special Committee on AI
  • Martin Ulbrich | Senior Expert of Artificial Intelligence Policy Development and Coordination DG Connect, European Commission
  • Luca Bertuzzi | Independent Tech Journalist (ex EURACTIV)
  • Virginia Ghiara | Principal Researcher in AI Ethics, Fujitsu Research Europe
  • Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini | CEO AI4People Limited, President Atomium-EISMD

Presentation of the AI4People Institute report “TOWARDS AN ETHICS BY DESIGN APPROACH FOR AI”

The report outlines the “Ethics by Design ” approach aimed to provide guidance to organisations, public or private, small or large enterprises, in proactively designing, developing and maintaining Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in accordance with the laws, ethical, moral principles and values that underpin the European Union.

  • Burkhard Schafer | Professor of Computational Legal Theory, University of Edinburgh
  • Ronan Kennedy | Associate Professor in the School of Law, University of Galway
  • Sergei Bobrovskyi | AI Expert, Trustworthy AI Leader, Airbus
  • Bianca de Teffé Erb | Director Data Ethics, Deloitte
  • Virginia Ghiara | Principal Researcher in AI Ethics, Fujitsu Research Europe
  • Patrice Chazerand | Director Pubblic Affairs, AI4People Institute

SPEAKERS

Robert Madelin

Chairman Advisory Board AI4People Limited, former Director-General DG Connect, European Commission

Luciano Floridi

Director Digital Ethics Center, Yale University, first Chairman Scientific Committee AI4People Institute

Dragos Tudorache

Member of the European Parliament, Chair Special Committee on AI

Martin Ulbrich

Senior Expert of Artificial Intelligence Policy Development and Coordination DG Connect, European Commission

Luca Bertuzzi

Independent Tech Journalist (ex EURACTIV)

Virginia Ghiara

Principal Researcher in AI Ethics, Fujitsu Research Europe

Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini

CEO AI4People Limited, President Atomium-EISMD

Burkhard Schafer

Professor of Computational Legal Theory, University of Edinburgh

Ronan Kennedy

Associate Professor in the School of Law, University of Galway

Sergei Bobrovskyi

AI Expert, Trustworthy AI Leader, Airbus

Bianca de Teffé Erb

Director Data Ethics, Deloitte

Patrice Chazerand

Director Pubblic Affairs, AI4People Institute

VIDEOS

REPORT

AI4PEOPLE INSTITUTE’S REPORT TOWARDS AN ETHICS BY DESIGN APPROACH FOR AI

How to design, develop and maintain responsible and just Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that respect the fundamental rights, ethical, moral principles, and values of the European Union.

The report outlines in actionable detail an “Ethics by Design” approach, which guides organizations, public or private, small, or large enterprises, in proactively designing, developing and maintaining Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in accordance with the laws, ethical, moral principles and public values that underpin the European Union. We also believe that the report offers an actionable blueprint, so that its execution can pave the way for improved future iterations.

The report provides a step-by-step description of an Ethics by Design process and criteria to assess lawfulness and ethical principles to embed them into all AI system development lifecycle phases, by AI4PEOPLE INSTITUTE’S REPORT TOWARDS AN ETHICS BY DESIGN APPROACH FOR AI adopting pragmatic and operational Trustworthy AI system requirements, ensuring these are developed in an accountable manner. The approach is streamlined to integrate with existing operational processes and impact assessments, avoiding redundant work and additional expenses.

The report offers practical guidance on how to implement each process phase, references to existing best practice methodologies and tools, along with recommendations for the European Union institutions on how best to foster and support the adoption of the Ethics by Design process.

Overall, the report argues that the Ethics by Design process is an effective method for both public and private organizations to achieve compliance when implementing AI systems. It is a valuable approach to ensure that AI systems do not only comply with the letter of the law, but are also responsible and just, with the spirit of ethics and trustworthiness. It is through this twofold compliance that AI systems can contribute to the promotion and protection of  the fundamental rights of people and the common good of society. As argued in the “AI4People – An Ethical Framework for a Good AI Society: Opportunities, Risks, Principles, and Recommendations”, the difference lies in playing well, not just by the rules: “Adopting an ethical approach to AI confers what we define here as a “dual advantage”.

On one side, ethics enables organisations to take advantage of the social value that AI enables. This is the advantage of being able to identify and leverage new opportunities that are socially acceptable or preferable. On the other side, ethics enables organisations to anticipate and avoid or at least minimise costly mistakes. With an analogy, it is the difference between playing according to the rules, and playing well, so that one may win the game.

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