Interdisciplinary expert workshop: AI and Human Rights

Horizon Research Fellow Anna Maria Piskopani organised an interdisciplinary expert workshop as part of the RAi UK International Partnership project TAS Hub – Good Systems Strategic Partnership earlier this year.

The workshop took place on the 21st of June in the Geospatial Building on the Jubilee campus at the University of Nottingham and involved discussions around the challenges posed to human rights by new AI technologies. As AI is fuelled by datasets, data become essential for its development. Several rights are under threat, especially data protection, freedom of expression, and the right to non-discrimination (due to AI hallucinations, privacy concerns, bias in AI, errors in automated decision-making etc).

Multidisciplinary experts gave 15-minute presentations on the following issues based on their own research and experience: what are the benefits and challenges already experienced by research and academic institutions and potential changes the new U.S. governance brought on these topics.

The first presentation was given by Dr. D. Kondyli, (Research Director, Institute of Social Research. Greek National Centre for Social Sciences). She talked about “The experience of EU Institutions. The paradigm of Greek National Centre for Social Sciences”. Dr Kondyli gave specific paradigms how AI systems can provide support to parts of sociological research.  The next talk was by Mando Rachovitsa, (Associate Professor in Human Rights Law, Deputy Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, University of Nottingham). Her presentation was focussed on “Identifying human rights harms and risks in GPAI: disconcerting developments in the UK and US AI safety institutes”.  Nicholas Gervassis, Assistant Professor in Law (Technology and Data) in the School of Law, University of Nottingham gave a presentation regarding “Before the AI hype: uncomfortable silences and progressive regulation”.  Aislinn Bergin (Transitional Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham) presented an overview of the work and aims of RAi UK. She also presented examples of her own research with AI technologies and the human rights challenges. Following Aislinn, Oliver Butler (Assistant Professor in Law) talked about his research work related to algorithmic decision making. Lastly, Anna-Maria (Research Fellow in IT law, Horizon Institute of Digital Economy, University of Nottingham) gave some examples of how working with multidisciplinary teams in Horizon and TAS Hub had presented her the opportunity to make new connections between Research and AI and to collaborate with US Institutions providing her with new perspectives.

The workshop concluded with a discussion about the new challenges political pressures could present to AI regulation. Professor Boriana Koleva (Director, Horizon Institute) and Dr. Slim Bechikh (Associate professor in Computer Science) also attended the workshop and participated in the discussion.  At the end of the workshop, participants had the opportunity to enjoy networking and the provided refreshments.