G42, a technology holding group, has come together with global technology giant Microsoft to officially launch Responsible AI Foundation. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris.
The project, which is touted as the first of its kind in the Middle East, will receive the support of research partner Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). The Responsible AI Foundation aims to promote responsible AI standards and best practices in the Middle East and Global South.
The Responsible AI Foundation will have two main focus areas – Responsible AI Research, which will include developing AI safety methodologies, bias mitigation techniques, and explainability tools, and Responsible AI Implementation and Governance that would revolve around developing frameworks to ensure ethical development and deployment of AI systems, accounting for cultural diversity. This will involve designing risk assessment models, external ethics boards, technical audit tools, and adaptable governance guidelines that account for regional needs.
“By bringing together leading minds in research, policy, and industry, we are building a foundation that will drive ethical AI development at a global scale,” said, Dr. Andrew Jackson, Group Responsible AI Officer at G42, said, “Our mission is to translate principles into practice, developing actionable frameworks that ensure AI is safe, fair, and aligned with societal values.”
Natasha Crampton, VP and Chief Responsible AI Officer at Microsoft, said, “By sharing insights and expertise from our eight years of work in responsible AI governance, Microsoft is committed to helping build a robust, competitive AI economy grounded in good governance and safe, trustworthy, and ethical AI practices.”
Eric Xing, President, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, remarked, “A Responsible AI Foundation is a transformative step in ensuring AI addresses critical societal challenges while adhering to ethical standards. Our collaboration with the Foundation highlights MBZUAI’s commitment to advancing innovative research that pushes the boundaries of AI technology and ensures its responsible application.”
Inception, a G42 company, will serve as the institution’s Program Lead, to help advance its mission. In collaboration with G42, Microsoft also announced the expansion of its AI for Good Lab to Abu Dhabi, which will work with NGOs and governmental organizations to leverage AI to address societal challenges, with a focus on projects in the Middle East and Global South. The first researchers at the Abu Dhabi hub will begin work in March of this year.