AI, Safety and Security. AI for Good and Protecting the Next Generation

THE SECOND PANEL. AI as a socio-technical construct lands in an age of big uncertainties, conflicts, and insecurities. AI can be a force for Good: its power should be tapped at a much bigger magnitude in helping solve big civilizational challenges and social development goals. Parallel to that, AI’s agency is active in everyday solutions that surround us and soon, they will power everything digital: its prowess and impact will be omnipresent, and so will be risks and harms that have to do with this line of technologies, that are here to stay.

Questions to answer

  • There are risks and harms unique to AI  - and there is also luggage, unsolved. How can we protect populations most vulnerable, especially youth, from the unintended harms and clashes of AI misuse?
  • How do institutions, both national and international, react to these challenges and what can be considered cutting edge initiatives that instill hope and a sense of safety?
  • When it goes wrong: how can we build awareness and understanding around AI safety and security for non-coders and what is the cutting edge in that?
  • AI transforms 21st century defense: how do we protect our societies from aggressors who increasingly develop robust AI capabilities?

Participants

Maria Luciana Axente

Responsible AI & AI for Good Lead, PwC UK

She is a member of various Advisory Boards – UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI (APPG AI), ORBIT & SKEMA AI Institute, Vice Chair of techUK Data and AI leadership committee and member of BSI/ISO & IEEE AI standard groups.

László Drajkó

Founder & Managing Parner, Cydrill Software Security

Laszlo is an appreciated contributor of ACT-IAC, a partnership of US Government, Academia and Industry, where he collaborates in the AI working group, especially driving awareness of security aspects of AI and Machine Learning systems.

Imre Porkoláb

Vice Chair Board of Directors, NATO DIANA

He is an expert on guerrilla warfare and counter-terrorism in the context of special operations capability development, related leadership theory, change management in the V.U.C.A. environment, and innovative methods of organizational transformation and its applicability to business.

George Tilesch

Founder & President, PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence

For over 20 years, George has been active as a cross-sector and cross-industry conduit between AI ecosystems worldwide and as a trusted advisor for world leaders.

Panel discussions

The panel discussion on 'Responsible AI in Digital Platforms, Telco & Media' focused on AI's role in these sectors and exploring strategies, challenges, and regulatory compliance. The panel comprised experts from Microsoft Spain, PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence, OpenAI and T-Systems International.
The world is nearing consensus on ethical AI, presaged by the anticipated EU AI Act. Questions of creating norms, operationalizing them, and establishing governance structures are central. Leaders are expected to understand AI policy, ethics, and communicate its implications effectively.
The fourth panel discusses AI-infused government services as a key area for AI introduction in society. Questions revolve around EU political readiness for AI, creating trustworthy AI environments, the role of AI sandboxes, and partnerships between public authorities and AI leaders. The participating panel experts hail from a diverse array of AI-related fields.

Speeches

Brando Benifei, Italian Member of the European Parliament and co-rapporteur of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, spoke live via video link to the conference participants. He said that the title of the NMHH conference “Humans in Charge – Steering the AI Age Responsibly” encapsulated perfectly what they wanted to achieve with the new Community legislation: a set of human-centred rules that allow strong human oversight, minimise risks and promote the reaping of the benefits.
Prof. Dr. Olívia J. Erdélyi addressed the issue of AI regulation at the "Humans in Charge" conference, noting its current inconsistencies and suggesting the adoption of a risk-based approach like the EU's in the formulation of AI governance. She emphasized the importance of using consistent, scientific terminologies and developing regulations that technical staffs can accurately implement. Erdélyi also suggested AI governance could either be handled by a dedicated regulatory authority or multiple specialized agencies, provided there is coordination and expertise in AI and machine learning.
Italian researcher and AI4GOV founder Gianluca Misuraca spoke at the "Humans in Charge" conference on AI governance and the vital role of the public sector. He emphasized the importance of managing AI's potential benefits and risks for public services and society. Misuraca noted government's role as AI regulator, user and facilitator, and highlighted the challenge of adopting AI in public services while protecting citizens, especially under uncertain outcomes. He also stressed the need to prepare the workforce for increased AI use.
As Data & AI Lead for Public Sector & Health at Microsoft Spain, he highlighted the need for collaboration between government and private sector in managing AI. He emphasised the transformative potential of AI. Sanchez underscored the importance of a cautious yet optimistic approach, referencing Microsoft's own AI regulation framework. He referenced Spain's progressive national AI strategy and the potential for other EU countries like Hungary to adopt the AI Sandbox model.
At the "Humans in Charge - Steering the AI Age Responsibly" conference, George Tilesch, international expert and PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence's founding president, emphasized on the convergence of technology, regulation and social inclusion in anticipation of AI Act's implementation. He expressed the vital need for proactive planning and hoped the conference’s insightful discussions would help Hungary prepare for its upcoming EU presidency.
The President of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority, emphasized the need for collaboration among researchers, developers, and decision-makers for ethical AI development and usage. While AI has great potential to enhance life quality and human efficiency, it also poses significant challenges, particularly with deepfake technologies eroding faith in digital reality. Koltay called for further exploration of the AI's legal implications, data protection, and vital ethical standards.
Maria Luciana Axente, a renowned AI ethics expert and advocate for children's rights, spoke at the "Humans in Charge" conference, focusing on child protection in the digital age. She explored the opportunities AI offers in education and health but warned of its darker side, including reducing human interaction crucial for childhood development. Axente highlighted notable efforts, such as UNICEF's "AI for Children" initiative, designed to answer emerging ethical questions around AI and children's safety.

Photo gallery

Photo gallery