OUR WORK

AI Policy and Regulation

AI POLICY | AI ACT

Advocating Responsible AI Policies Worldwide

ALLAI has been actively involved in AI policymaking from the very beginning, and its founders were active in AI policymaking even before ALLAI was founded. They laid the groudwork for the current policy debates that are taking place around the globe and ALLAI is actively involved in all these policy making processes.

Policy Lines

AI knows no borders and policies set in one part of the world, should resonate around the globe. By advocating a global approach towards AI policy and actively participating in global AI initiatives, ALLAI works towards a global policy and governance framework for Responsible AI.

Relevant memberships and activities on the global AI stage:

  • Catelijne Muller is member of the OECD network of AI Experts
  • ALLAI’s co-founder Virginia Dignum is a member of the Global Partnership on AI, where she sits on the Working Group on Responsible AI
  • Virginia Dignum is expert advisor to UNICEF and co-authored the UNICEF report: Policy Guidance on AI for Children
  • Catelijne Muller actively took part in the roundtable on AI & Online Child Abose with the King and Queen of Sweden
  • Virginia Dignum is member of the Executive Committee of the IEEE Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous Systems

ALLAI has been directly involved in EU and European policy making since its founding. In 2017, its President and co-founder Catelijne Muller, in her role as AI-Rapporteur of the European Economic and Social Committee, wrote what is widely considered the ‘inception report on AI’ in Europe: AI & Society.  This report kicked off the debate on the ethical, legal and societal impact on AI in Europe and the European AI Strategy and the establishment of the High Level Expert Group on AI.

Ever since, ALLAI has been directly involved in EU and European policy making on AI through various activities and memberships:

  • ALLAI actively and continuously provides feedback and advice on EU and European legislative initiatives, such as the AI Act, the AI Treaty, the Platform Worker Directive, the AI Liability Directive, etc.
  • ALLAI is regularly consulted by EU Commissioners and MEP’s and national Governments and Parliaments
  • ALLAI’s founders were members of the EU High Level Expert Group on AI and co-rapporteurs of the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI and the Assessment List for Trustworthy AI
  • ALLAI has Observer status to the Council of Europe’s Committee on AI
  • ALLAI’s co-founder and President is AI-Rapporteur at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and was president of the EESC Temporary Study Group on AI

ALLAI is regularly consulted by national governments, parliaments and public institutions on national AI policy issues:

  • ALLAI provided evidence on AI at several hearings of the Dutch Parliament
  • ALLAI regularly provides written input and feedback on Dutch AI policy
  • Catelijne Muller provided evidence on AI & social media at a hearing of the Belgian Parliament
  • Catelijne Muller provided evidence on AI at the UK House of Lords
  • Catelijne Muller provided evidence on AI at the German Bundestag
  • ALLAI’s co-founder Virginia Dignum advised the Dutch Police on Ethics & AI in Policing

Our Policy Activities

AIA in-depth | Full series

GLOBAL AI HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION

The impact of AI on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law

AI can have ample impact on democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Where the ethics of AI were at the center of the debate in 2018 and 2019, the impact of AI on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law has rightfully been gaining interest from policy makers and the public alike. ALLAI’s AI & Democracy Project aims to put focus on this still largely unchartered area.

Objectives and Activities

ALLAI is formally involved in the development of the Global AI Convention as Observer to the Committee on AI of the Council of Europe. More information on this work can be found here.

Based on our investigations and observations, we inform policy makers on strategies for AI-driven political micro-targeting, to curb AI-driven manipulation, to tackle proliferation of deep fakes, and to address concentration of online power and information.

Addressing the adverse impact of AI on democracy, human rights and the rule of law, cannot be done through policymaking and lawmaking alone. It needs a well informed society first and foremost. We will raise awareness on the power that AI can yield over our democracy, public discourse, elections, rule of law and human rights.

We will bring together experts, stakeholders, policymakers and societal organisations as this issue should be addressed in collaboration.

Activities

ALLAI ACADEMY

Educational programs to raise Responsible AI knowledge and awareness

ALLAI Academy offers a suite of in-house Masterclasses and Expert Sessions aimed at improving knowledge and awareness on the capabilities and limitations of AI. The Masterclasses and Expert Sessions are tailored to the specific demands and level of expertise within your organization.

Catalogue

The European Commission recently published its proposal for a Regulation on Artificial Intelligence. ALLAI offers a Masterclass that zooms in on the main elements of the proposal and its practical application.

This introduction is aimed at achieving a general knowledge and awareness level of the technical possibilities and limitations of AI, the ethical and legal implications of AI, the social impact of AI and the (inter) national AI policy landscape. The sessions are interactive and include both knowledge transfer and a workshop element.

The sessions are given by one or two ALLAI board member or a board member plus an expert from ALLAI’s expert pool.

Expert sessions are aimed at diving more in-depth into a particular AI-related topic or AI application or at addressing an audience with a particular expertise (politics, legal compliance, financial services, data science, etc.).

The session entails an introduction to Responsible AI, where participants get a bird’s eye view of the technical possibilities and limitations of AI, the ethical and legal implications of AI, the social impact of AI and the (inter) national AI policy landscape. The second part of the session is tailor-made to the specific demands of the particular group.

ALLAI offers an in-depth Masterclass on the EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI and the Assessment List for Trustworthy AI. These guidelines were drafted by the EU High Level Expert Group on AI to the European Commission. The Masterclass is given by the Board Members or Advisory Board members of ALLAI (4 of which are members of the High Level Expert Group on AI) and experts from ALLAI’s expert pool.

AI has ample impact on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. ALLAI is currently advising the Council of Europe on a possible binding legal instrument on AI and offers a Masterclass on the impact of AI on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Sessions provided at
  • Dutch Enterprise Agency (Responsible AI Knowledge and Implementation Programs)
  • Dutch Tax Authorities (Responsible AI Knowledge and Awareness Program)
  • Dutch Ministry of Economics & Climate (Masterclass for Digital Department)
  • Dutch Ministry of Justice and Safety (Masterclass on AI & Corona)
  • Swedish Trade Union Confederation TCO (Masterclass for Legal Experts)
  • Consumer and Market Authority (NL) (Masterclass for Directors)
  • Dutch Banking Association (Masterclass for Member Organisations’ leadership)
  • Dutch Association of Insurers (Masterclass for Member Organisations’ leadership)

PROGRAMS & PROJECTS

Governance and Compliance Program

The AI Governance and Compliance Program helps shape your organisation’s AI strategy and align it with the upcoming AI Act.

Program Modules

The AI Act proposal is a highly complex and granular piece of legislation. Anticipating its coming into force is crucial for all organisations large and small.

The module “Understanding the AI Act” helps organisations navigate the 80+ pages of rules and many annexes, multiple references to other regulations and make sense of them. The module consists of interactive masterclasses and Q&A’s and can be tailor made to your organisation’s needs.

ALLAI has been closely involved in the developments of the AI Act, including in analysing and advising on the many proposals made along the way, so you will learn from the best.

Preparing for the AI Act involves a.o. setting up a proper governance and compliance system, analysing risk levels, identifying fundamental rights impacts, involving internal and external stakeholders, preparing documentation and much more. This module helps organisations set up such system.

This module provides continued tailor made support for your organisation around the AI Act and the ongoing policy developments whenever you have questions. Be it on where the legislative process stands, or whether your system would be considered high risk, and what your obligations will be.

EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI

ALLAI helps organizations implement the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI and use the Assessment List for Trustworthy AI.

Program Modules

ALLAI offers an in-depth Masterclass on the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI and the Assessment List for Trustworthy AI. The Masterclass is provided by the Board Members or Advisory Board members of ALLAI (4 of which are members of the High Level Expert Group on AI) or experts from ALLAI’s expert pool.

Duration: 3 hours

The EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI are ‘generic’ and meant to apply to all sectors. Nevertheless, each sector or organization has its particular specifications, use cases and demands that could demand a tailor-made ‘translation’ of the Guidelines to reflect these specifics for that sector or organization.

Through a proven iteration and adoption process ALLAI helps organizations or sectors make this translation.

Part of the EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI is the Assessment List for Trustworthy AI (ALTAI). This list aims to guide organizations through the Ethics Guidelines by asking the most relevant questions based on the 7 Requirements for Trustworthy AI. ALLAI’s step-by-step guidance and translation process helps organizations ‘walk through’ ALTAI and provide expertise on the background and goal of the questions and if necessary adapt the questions to the particular needs of the organization.

TAI for HEI

EU-funded project aimed at assisting universities and higher education institutions in teaching Trustworthy AI.

Project Elements

A Learning Framework for the teaching of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education will define the competencies and skills related to Trustworthy AI and the learning strategies to help students gain these competencies and skills.

Open Educational Resources for Trustworthy AI will enable teachers to include this topic in their courses, and will include a teacher’s guide, suggested activities and multimedia material that can be used directly and interactively with students.

A Guide to Conducting Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Hackathons to will guide teachers on how to use this innovative methodology to help consolidate students’ skills based on real life business and social problems.

Project AEQUITAS

ALLAI is part of an EU project to unbias AI, by looking at bias from technical, social, legal and ethical perspectives.

Project Elements

The project aims to build and open experimentation environment for detecting and diagnosis unfairness in AI systems.

The project develops an open experimentation environment to help mitigate and repair unfairness in AI-systems.

The project develops an AI-Fairness-by-Design methodology to build fair AI models by design.

Vascul-AID

EU-funded project aimed at predicting the risk of cardiovascular events and progression with Trustworthy AI

Project Elements

AI risk-prediction tools, a patient communication app, and a clinical dashboard,

Responsible AI & Corona

During Corona, ALLAI conducted a project around AI that was implemented to tackle the various challenges of the crisis.

Project Elements

Development of a Framework for Responsible AI in times of Crisis, based on the EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI,

Systematic assessment of the opportunities and challenges of AI to tackle the Corona-crisis and devise AI strategies for the current as well as future epidemics

Increase knowledge and awareness among policymakers, stakeholders and society about the importance of responsible AI, especially in times of crisis.