The AI Policy and Regulation panel responds to the imminent global AI policy and regulatory changes that have profound implications for AI and Neural Networks research and industry deployment. By welcoming diverse perspectives from different sectors, the panel unveils how emerging frameworks such as the European AI Act will shape the neural networks research community's technical innovation, deployment, and priorities. This collaborative discussion will assist the community in navigating the complex regulatory landscape, provide insights for AI system pioneers, and allow all to deepen the emerging certification and standardization mechanisms and even fundamental human rights and AI frameworks.

Moderator: Amanda Horzyk

Alexander Kriebitz, Chair of Business Ethics, Technische Universität München

Karine Caunes, Executive Director, Centre for AI & Digital Humanism

Denis Naughton, Former-Minister Communications, Energy, Natural Resources, Climate Action & Environment

Flavia Massucci, Compliance for Digital Specialist at Intesa Sanpaolo

IJCNN (2025.ijcnn.org/) is the premier international conference in the area of neural networks theory, analysis and applications. Since its inception, IJCNN has been playing a leading role in promoting and facilitating interaction among researchers and practitioners, and dissemination of knowledge in neural networks and related facets of machine learning. And Rome with its history and geographical position will further contribute to grow and maintain the role of the IJCNN as a prominent platform for exchange of knowledge in neural networks and artificial intelligence. 

Full agenda available here.

Full session available here.

There is a growing rise in the use of AI technologies across various sectors, which raises various ethical and regulatory concerns for the lawmaker, the users and the developers. This panel will examine the intersection of AI, ethics, security, governance, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the African context. Experts will explore how AI systems can be designed to align with African values, foster trust, and address ethical and regulatory gaps. The session will also examine geopolitical dynamics influencing AI development, particularly the competing roles of global powers and the implications for Africa’s digital sovereignty. Additionally, panelists will consider the need to address underlying inequalities, such as access to technology and the internet, to ensure inclusive AI development that drives innovation and sustainable growth across the continent.

Questions to be answered

1. What ethical principles which align with African cultural and societal values should guide the use of AI in Africa, particularly in sensitive sectors like health, finance, and governance?

2. How can cross-border regulatory collaboration address the challenges of AI governance in Africa?

3. How should African governments balance investments in AI to address fundamental inequalities, such as internet access and digital literacy?

4. What steps can African governments take to transition from being consumers of foreign AI technologies to becoming innovators in the global AI ecosystem?

Full agenda available here.

MODERATOR: Tami Koroye, University of Bradford - United Kingdom

SPEAKERS:

Karine Caunes, Centre for AI and Digital Humanism (Digihumanism)

Mercy King'ori, Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) - KenyaYomi Ajibade, Insulet - Nigeria

Yomi Ajibade, Insulet - Nigeria

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit will take place in Paris on 10th and 11th February 2025. It will gather Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organisations, CEOs of small and large companies, representatives of academia, non-governmental organisations, artists and members of civil society. On this occasion, Renaissance Numérique, Digihumanism, The Future Society, Wikimedia France, the Avaaz Foundation, Connected by Data and the European Center for Non-for-Profit Law are glad to invite you to their civil society side-event: the Citizens’ AI Action Summit! 

To register for online or on site, please click here

Agenda

9.00-9.30 Welcome coffee

9.30-9.35 Opening remarks

by Charles Bouffier, Partner, IP-IT & Data Protection, Racine Avocats and Samuel Le Goff, Chairman, Renaissance Numérique

9.35-9.50 Introduction

by Caroline Jeanmaire, Senior Associate, The Future Society

Presentation of the results of the experts and citizens consultations organised ahead of the Summit, with a focus on the “Global AI Governance” track.

9.50-10.40 Harnessing AI for the common good: Challenges and democratic solutions

• Sarah Andrew, Legal and Campaign Director, Avaaz Foundation: “Artificial Intelligence, Real Damage: the growing evidence of AI’s human rights impact”

• Henry Papadatos, Managing Director, SaferAI: “Keeping Large AI Companies Accountable: Risk Management Evaluations”

• Zakariyau Yusuf, Director, Tech Governance Project: “African civil society’s role in supporting AI governance coordination”

• Jessica Galissaire, Studies Manager, Renaissance Numérique: “Proposals for a more meaningful inclusion of civil society in global AI governance processes”

In their interventions, speakers will share views on current challenges and possible solutions for the future. These short remarks aim to give food for thought to participants for the discussion that will follow.

10.40-11.45 Discussion and ideation of a “Civil Society Wish List for Meaningful Engagement in Global AI Governance”

Involving all participants, moderated by Karine Caunes, Executive Director, Digihumanism, Tim Davies, Research Director, Connected, and Laura Lazaro Cabrera, Programme Director for Equity and Data, Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe

Questions to be addressed include:

• What have been the most effective ways for civil society to engage with global AI governance initiatives?

• What have been obstacles to meaningful engagement across the years?

• How can these obstacles be overcome?

• Has civil society been successfully and meaningfully involved in the road to the Paris AI Action Summit? How about during the Summit?

• What could be some solutions/recommendations to explore for future Summits and beyond?  

• If you had one wish that could lead to a more meaningful engagement of civil society in global AI governance efforts, what would that be?

In addition to the actual discussion, participants both online and on-site will be encouraged to share input via an interactive platform. 

11.45-12.00 Key takeaways & Next steps

by David Evan Harris, Chancellor’s Public Scholar, University of California, Berkeley

Background & Context

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit will take place in Paris on 10th and 11th February 2025. It will gather Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organisations, CEOs of small and large companies, representatives of academia, non-governmental organisations, artists and members of civil society. The event follows two previous  summits: one at Bletchley Park (UK) in 2023,  focusing mainly on AI safety issues, and another in Seoul in 2025, expanding the agenda to a larger range of issues including safety, innovation and inclusivity.

In the run up to this third global AI summit, its organisers have further expanded the scope to a wider range of topics, centered around the five following areas and each led by a “thematic envoy”: public interest AI; future of work; innovation and culture; trust in AI; and global AI governance.

Across the five themes, they have committed to making the event “as inclusive as possible”, including the participation of civil society.

A number of official side-events are being organised to allow for further discussion on pressing AI governance issues. To this end, a coalition of civil society organisations – Renaissance Numérique, Wikimedia France, Connected by Data, Avaaz, The Future Society, Digihumanism and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law – are organising a dedicated side event on the  importance of actively engaging civil society in the global AI governance discourse.

Digihumanism is happy to participate in a breakfeast roundtable organised on February 11, at 8.30am, by Impact AI, in the framework of the Paris AI Action Summit.

The roundtable on Responsible AI: International Perspectives, will feature interventions by:

• Karine Caunes Executive Director Center for AI & Digital Humanism

• Agata Ferretti, The AI Alliance Lead for Europe

• Carsten Maple, Professor Alan Turing institute of Technology

• Felecia Webb, Chief strategy Officer, Partnership on AI
   

• Marcin Detyniecki, Groupe Chief Data Scientist @AXA, member of Impact AI Council, will moderate the discussion.

The Sixth Edition of the Athens Roundtable on AI and the Rule of Law will take place on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the OECD Headquarters in Paris.

Digihumanism has been invited to participate in the Athens Roundtable and is looking forward to contributing to its objectives:

• Assess coordination efforts in the AI governance landscape, particularly through the lens of accountability

• Propose concrete objectives and deliverables for France’s AI Action Summit:

• Strengthen collaboration between AI governance civil society organizations and advocate for their inclusion in global AI governance.

To learn more about the event, please click here.

The expert meeting aims to discuss the preliminary results of the FRA project on Assessing high-risk AI with a focus on developing guidance for a Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment (FRIA) under the EU AI Act.

Dr. Karine Caunes, Digihumanism Executive Director, was invited to participate in the expert meeting.