In recent years, rapid advancements in information and communication technologies, including artificial intelligence, have sparked both public and private actors to reflect upon and propose guiding principles regarding the responsible design and deployment of these technologies. It has become increasingly common for these governance initiatives to dedicate a part of their efforts to ethics. Yet, as expertise in AI ethics has been concurrently claimed by numerous actors such as philosophers, lawyers, computer scientists, and practitioners, among others, it has become equally challenging to identify credible advisors.

The Beyond Cosmethics IdeaLab* was initiated in an effort to understand and promote the application of ethics in innovative tech development and governance. In order to celebrate their two-year research exchange and present their findings and recommendations, the Beyond Cosmethics members will organise a closing conference on December 1st, 2022 (Leuven, Aula Zeger van Hee).

Prof. Esther Keymolen (Tilburg University) and Prof. Patrizia Zanoni (UHasselt) will provide keynote talks. Moreover, the event is structured around two-panel discussions exploring the role of ethics in AI governance in theory and practice.

The Beyond Cosmethics closing event wants to engage with a multi-disciplinary audience, ranging from academics to educators, policymakers, civil interest groups and industry. Everybody interested in the impact and governance of ICT is welcome to join!

Programme

• 13.00 -13.30: Registration
  
• 13.30 -13.45: Welcoming Beyond Cosmethics Coordinators
• 13.45 – 14.30: Keynote “Virtue ethics and responsible innovation. New avenues for ethics in tech development and governance?” by Prof. Esther Keymolen (Tilburg University) (+ Q&A)
  
• 14.30 -14.45: Coffee Break
• 14.45 – 16.00: Panel 1:
  
• Beyond Cosmethics panel will focus on normative concepts and their role in relation to AI. Here, we place an emphasis on selected normative concepts, namely responsibility, trust, and fairness. The panel will lay out the general underpinnings of each concept, what role they play in AI and our research, and what lessons can be drawn from them for i.a. research and AI governance.
  • Beyond Cosmethics Researchers: Ann-Katrien Oimann, Nele Stroobants, Pieter Delobelle, Ana Maria Corrêa Harcus, Daniela Spajic, Erik Kamenjasevic, Laurens Naudts.
  • Panel Moderated By: Prof. Dr. Anton Vedder (KU Leuven CiTiP)
• 16.00-16.15: Coffee Break
  
• 16.15 – 17.30: Panel 2: The Social Impact of ICT and AI technologies panel will discuss to what extent efforts regarding ICT governance take into account the needs of unheard and unrecognized social groups, such as people on the move and sex workers, and how their inclusion and participation in policy decisions could be further improved. The panelists will cover associated themes and questions relevant for this core discussion, including the role ethics and fundamental rights can play as a guide for policy making, the need to introduce regulatory bans on the development and deployment of certain AI technologies, and the benefits and limitations of techno-solutionism for tackling social challenges, such as data-driven discrimination.
  • Nele Roekens (UNIA)
  • Prof. Rob Heyman (Knowledge Centre Data & Society)
  • Caterina Rodelli (AccessNow)
  • Yigit Aydin (European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance)
  • Panel Moderated By: Dr. David Geerts (DigiSoc)

• 17.30 – 18.15: Keynote by Prof. Patrizia Zanoni (UHasselt) (+Q&A)

• 18.15 – 18.30: Closing Reception

Registration

Participation is free of charge but registration is needed. The link at the bottom of this page will require you to create an account in order to register if this is your first registration via KU Leuven Faculty of Law

More info

URL: https://www.law.kuleuven.be/ci...

Location:
UPDATE: Due to the national railway strike, the event will be organised online only. Registrants will receive a link for participation.

Keynote speakers:
Prof. Esther Keymolen (Tilburg University)
Prof. Patrizia Zanoni (UHasselt)