Web Science Institute collaborates on social trust in AI workshop in Singapore
Dame Wendy Hall, Professor Pauline Leonard, Professor Les Carr and Dr Matt Ryan from the Web Science Institute represented the University at a collaborative workshop organised by Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Institute of Science and Technology for Humanity (NISTH) and supported by the British High Commission in Singapore.
Six months in the making, the workshop centred on the results of a survey on social trust in artificial intelligence (AI) rolled out in South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore by NISTH earlier this year. Delving into citizens’ opinions on trust in AI technologies, results indicated an emphasis on the importance of designing trustworthy technology.
Professor Pauline Leonard, Web Science Institute Deputy Director said: “Our colleagues in Singapore are at the forefront of work on trustworthy AI, so this collaborative workshop was a great opportunity to showcase the advances in, and conscious implementation of, socially relevant and impactful AI technologies from both institutions.”
“We discussed the current academic progress in exploring the potential hurdles in implementing AI technologies, the role of society, and the efforts of government agencies in addressing the challenges of the societal impact of AI.”
Other topics covered included the differences in trust in AI in East Asian and European countries, regulation of AI, its impact on democracy and equality, and how trustworthy AI is being engineered into Healthcare, Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), and FinTech systems.
Doctor Matt Ryan, Associate Professor in Governance and Public Policy, said: “We gained some fascinating insights at the workshop and it was a fantastic opportunity to network with professionals and researchers who share a common interest in AI ethics and trustworthiness, whilst contributing to the ongoing discussions around building trust in AI systems.”
The collaborative workshop demonstrates the evolving landscape of AI and the importance of cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration as key to understanding the impact of this type of technology on society.