Human-Centred AI (HCAI) means creating AI Systems that put Human Concerns at the center of AI development. It is a comprehensive approach considering the need to develop ethical, transparent, trustworthy and sustainable AI systems focused on enriching and supporting the human experience rather than exploiting and manipulating humanity. The original consortium consisted of four universities, Budapest University of Economics (HU), Hogeschool Utrecht (NL), TU Dublin (IE), Univ. of Naples Frederico II (IT) along with three centres of excellence, CeADAR (IE), CNR (IT), ESI-CEE (BG) and three SMEs Nathean (IE), Real AI (NL) and Fiven (IT).
The consortium has formally expanded to include four more universities Univ. of West Attica (GR), Hamburg UAS (DE), Sofia University (BG) and Igor Shikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (UA) along with Hungarian SME (QTICS) and Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, andSustainable Energy.
The consortium has developed and provides free open access to a range of learning materials at Masters level for those wishing to upskill in AI, especially providing skills in developing ethical AI ready for regulated use. During the funded period of the programme the consortium also provided free access to those seeking to complete Masters programmes in Human Centred AI.
The Human Centered AI Masters Consortium was formed in 2020 to develop an HC AI Masters programme as part of an EU-funded action to develop Ethical AI Masters level programmes. This new programme proposal was a response to call CEF-TC-2020-1: European Platform for Digital Skills and Jobs, specifically Objective 1: Design and deliver a Masters programme in Artificial Intelligence. The programme led to the design and deliver a Master’s Programme of 60 ECTS credits in Human Centered Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Clearly AI can be a tremendous tool for good, augmenting human intelligence and providing a basis for tackling some of society’s most complex challenges. Equally, poor use of AI based on biased and poorly understood models can be shown to cause harm for individuals and undermine trust in society. While this causes concern for governments around the world the European Union has taken a lead in addressing concerns about AI through the EU AI Act.
Human Centred AI methods promise an effective general approach for constructing AI solutions which, when well-constructed, are more aligned to regulatory. Legal and trustworthy requirements than pure technology focused approaches.
The Human Centred AI Consortium is a consortium and network composed of innovators, excellence centres, SMEs and incubation centres interested in enabling European citizens across the community to benefit from Trustworthy AI research and developing Human Centred (and related) approaches to AI.
The consortium is focused on enabling AI solutions for actors in ‘the last mile’ – the application of trustworthy AI in practice. The consortium recognises that AI should not be the preserve of large centrally focused organisations which substantial existing capability.
It has adopted open practice in relation to sourcing research project ideas from SMEs. This permits SMEs to explore ideas around applying AI that may not be otherwise open to them. It also permits students and researchers to gain experience in developing ethical, practical applications of AI in the real work.
The consortium explores the areas of AI regulation and Risk ; an active complex area with huge potential for applied research, industry engagement, research centre engagement.
