AI for the common good: Are we getting closer to it?

The FARI Conference of 2024 was held in Brussels on 18 and 19 of November to promote a space of debate about Artificial Intelligence for the common good. The conference aims to foster collaboration and innovation in technology and research on AI, Data and Robotics and provides space for networking, learning, and idea exchange.

This annual event unites researchers, companies and public policy officials to discuss governance, art, challenges and research on AI. The event promoted space for artists exhibitions, an experience room with augmented reality glasses, AI-powered prosthetics and AI applied for energy in smart cities.
 

One session was titled, "Creative Futures: Envisioning AI, Data and Robotics' Role in Culture, Arts, and Society." This session discussed new creative possibilities and considered how technologies can redefine storytelling, cultural experiences and artistic expression. When robotics meets creativity, when design merges with psychology we can see that the future holds space for social robots. 

In a world where education constantly evolves, questions arise about the classrooms of today and the role creativity plays within them. Patrícia Alves-Oliveira, Assistant Professor of Robotics at the University of Michigan, presented her research on social robots that empower and enhance human well-being and creativity. The YOLO robot was designed specifically to interact with children, blending technology and imagination through storytelling. These robots engage with kids in ways that spark curiosity and wonder. To understand the impact of such innovations, research was conducted by observing how children interact with one another, focusing on their play patterns and how these interactions might mirror or enhance the learning process. Alves-Oliveira’s research received three Best Paper Awards at the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction.

The last session of the conference, "Who Decides the Future of AI?" featured Yoshua Bengio, Prof. of Computer Science at University of Montreal. The professor highlighted the status of artificial intelligence research and competition among industries. Bengio brought academic knowledge and industry expertise to the table and raised questions about the ethical use of AI and the risks that society might face in the future.  Companies like OpenAI, Google (DeepMind), Amazon, and Microsoft control vast computational resources, proprietary data, and talent, creating an AI oligopoly. The concentration of extreme power, particularly when it involves artificial intelligence (AI), raises significant concerns such as opaque decision-making and economic disparities. Bengio highlighted the motto that “knowledge gives power” and that public police officers, governments and policymakers should act proactively to regulate AI. He summarized by stating, “Since legislation takes time we need to start acting now.” Because concentrated AI power often bypasses public consent, policies and applications driven by corporate interests rather than societal welfare. To solve the lack of governance, Yoshua suggests the need to design safe AI and strong governance.

This blog was written by Thais Motta, Erasmus Mundus Scholar, currently doing a double master’s degree in digital communication and leadership at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS).