AI and ethics go hand in hand? Ambitious, but not impossible
The SOLARIS project teaches how to use AI in a conscious way
A European project that includes several international partners and which aims to make an ethical and positive use of Artificial Intelligence. Angelo Tumminelli, researcher in Moral Philosophy at the Department of Human Sciences of LUMSA University, Calogero Caltagirone, professor of Moral Philosophy at LUMSA University and Team Coordinator of SOLARIS for LUMSA and Federica Russo, professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Technosciences at Utrecht University and General Coordinator of SOLARIS explained why a constructive relationship with AI is possible and the roadmap to achieve it.
Professor Tumminelli, how could you summarize the SOLARIS Project and what are its objectives?
SOLARIS is a European project that includes several international partners, news agencies such as Ansa, for example, various European universities and also diplomatic institutions, as in the case of the Albanian embassy. Therefore it is a transversal consortium both from a disciplinary and institutional point of view. This is a project whose aim is to analyze and study the effects at a geopolitical level but also at the level of the exercise of digital citizenship, of digital technologies, in particular of generative artificial intelligence (GAN,Generative Adversarial Network). This is clearly an extremely innovative and increasingly pervasive type of artificial intelligence in our lives and in the operating methods with which we carry out our daily actions. Therefore, the SOLARIS project intends to analyze the effects of the use of generative artificial intelligence at both a geopolitical level and in the relationship between States, but also for the purpose of exercising responsible digital citizenship.
How do you learn to use Artificial Intelligence in a positive way?It must first of all be stated that artificial intelligence is the result of a hybrid evolution between human beings and technology. It is not extrinsic to human evolution, but it is the last piece of it. As a philosopher and anthropologist, I make my skills available for this interdisciplinary project. Generative artificial intelligence belongs to human evolution and can be used to advance humanity or destroy it. This tool can promote the flourishing of the human or lead to the loss of identity. We therefore need caution in the use of artificial intelligence to make our humanity flourish. Institutions, schools and universities have a crucial role in digital education. The role of the university in the training of future professionals is fundamental. Thelong life learning, ongoing training must involve every professional field. Every institution must train its operators for responsible digital citizenship. Cooperation between schools, universities and professional bodies is necessary for the positive and ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Professor Caltagirone, how can the academic and entrepreneurial world contribute to the correct use of AI?As far as the university is concerned, since technology is not neutral, the choices made in the creation of various technological artefacts have social, cultural, political and institutional implications. It is necessary to develop a common and shared ethical horizon as a reference for all actors in the technology sector. The objective is to identify, develop and apply the best tools to identify ethical issues related to the development of information and communication technologies, in particular their distorted use that influences visions and behaviors. The role of the University, as a place of research, teaching and third mission, is strategic for developing a meta-ethical reflection on technology. This reflection must correlate the ethics applied to different technological fields, inspiring beliefs, attitudes and practices that respect human dignity in any condition and age.
And what about businesses?The massive development of technologies is determining new solutions to address social and environmental challenges, significantly improving people's personal and collective lives. Technologies, as agents of innovation, are configured as process tools that lead to the development of new ideas, tools or methods to promote the common good. This materializes in life practices, such as the preparation of new and efficient ways of transforming material reality, the creation of rules and sanctions formalized in legislative devices, and the identification of shared social values through new practices. Profit and non-profit entrepreneurship has a specific role, not only in the construction and implementation of products, but also in creating the conditions for institutions, organizations and services aimed at promoting inclusiveness, justice and solidarity, for the well-being of people and the environment.
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How can academia and entrepreneurship work together?To make artificial intelligence a reference infrastructure for the well-being of citizens and the environment, project synergies and coordination actions are necessary between the university institution and the business world. These efforts must create public spaces for discussion so as not to waste human, social, cultural, economic and professional resources. The university, with research, teaching and public engagement, must provide the theoretical foundations, techniques and methodologies for applying artificial intelligence, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and skills. This includes training professionals with a profile that can be used in the world of work, promoting technological innovation and supporting economic and social development. The business world must become a protagonist in the implementation of artificial technologies, improving people's daily lives, automating repetitive activities and reorganizing time for interpersonal relationships and services. An organizational model that enhances relationships between people can generate ethical governance, guaranteeing safe and responsible use of technologies and advantages for the social and institutional organization of human communities.
Professor Russo, the last question is for you. Is it possible, in your opinion, to establish an international protocol that establishes the limits of the ethical use of artificial intelligence?Absolutely yes. A protocol for the ethical use of AI can be established. These protocols exist for fundamental research in biomedicine and in the life and cognitive sciences. Certainly we need to agree on the basic principles and very practical issues to decide what is allowed and what is not. There is clearly a difficulty in distinguishing between the 'development' and 'use' of an AI system, but these are issues to be addressed, not impediments in principle.