As part of their collaboration, UNESCO and Mila have launched a call for proposals, open until May 2, to identify weaknesses in policy-making and the development of artificial intelligence systems. A collective work will be produced taking into account each opinion. It will explore creative and innovative approaches to provide policy makers with perspectives to ensure the development of ethical artificial intelligence.

A project on the development of ethical AI

Mila is a community of over 500 machine learning researchers dedicated to scientific excellence and innovation. Their primary mission is to build a global hub of scientific advancement driven by innovation and artificial intelligence for the benefit of all.

Mila and UNESCO aim to cross disciplinary and geographical boundaries to establish a global dialogue on ethics and human rights while developing a common strategy for the responsible development of AI. This project will be led by Sasha Rubel, Programme Specialist, Digital Transformation and Innovation for UNESCO, Benjamin Prud’homme, Executive Director of AI for Humanity at Mila, and Catherine Régis, Professor of Law at the Université de Montréal.

Sasha Rubel spoke about the importance of building a viable AI ecosystem:

“In order to harness AI for the common and global good, we need to build an AI ecosystem that is as diverse and inclusive as the societies we aspire to create, where every individual can take part in discussions to design policies and programs. To that end, we are excited to collaborate with Mila to shine a light on AI’s blind spots. Together, we can think about how to create a future powered by technology, but centered on humans.”

A call for proposals on AI’s weaknesses

As part of the project, Mila and UNESCO are calling on academics and AI specialists from all walks of life with a view to submitting ideas to be incorporated into the book they wish to write. Topics may include weaknesses in the development of AI as a technology, weaknesses in the development of public policy, global governance and regulation of AI, and weaknesses in the development of AI as a sector.

Catherine Régis, in her remarks, refers to the forthcoming book that will take into account these topics:

“This publication will offer a plural, informed and critical look at the blind spots in the development of AI to feed public debates and the development of standards in this field. The views of many actors with varied disciplinary and professional backgrounds will intersect to amplify the scope and relevance of the knowledge produced, an essential condition for a 360-degree conception of responsible AI.”

As long as the proposed initiatives are flexible enough to take into account all the evolutions that innovation will undergo in the coming years, they can be submitted in creative formats, giving free rein to the participants’ imagination. Calls for proposals are open until May 2, 2021 and contributions selected to appear in the book will be confirmed by May 25.

Translated from L’UNESCO et Mila veulent identifier les faiblesses du développement de l’intelligence artificiellele