Ethics Meets Innovation: The Future of Responsible AI Research

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IEEE NSU Industry Applications Society hosted a webinar, "Ethics Meets Innovation: The Future of Responsible AI Research," on January 11, 2025. This webinar aimed to responsibly explore ethical discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) and its future. The session focused on key principles of Responsible AI, such as fairness, transparency, accountability, privacy, sustainability, and inclusivity, as well as the future directions of AI research.

AKM Bahalul Haque, a renowned academic and researcher, was the keynote speaker for this event. He is currently on leave from his position as a lecturer in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at North South University. He is pursuing his D.Sc. in Software Engineering at LUT University, Finland. Mr. Haque holds an M.Sc. in Information Technology from Kiel University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Telecommunication Engineering from Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU).

The speaker began the webinar by discussing the concepts and research directions of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He explained that AI is a designed artefact and highlighted the importance of Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI). He also highlighted the need for human oversight and accountability in AI systems, ensuring these systems are designed and operated for the benefit of society while minimizing potential harm.

He discussed the importance of aligning AI with societal values, highlighting the critical need for fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems. He addressed key concepts related to ethics and human values, governance and regulation, trustworthiness, data quality, privacy, and AI's social and environmental impact. He also addressed the ethical challenges of autonomous systems, human-AI collaboration, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on society. He encouraged participants to discuss real-world dilemmas related to AI ethics.

Mr Haque discussed the need for global ethical AI standards and improved interpretability of AI models. He highlighted the importance of aligning AI development with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and compliance regulations like the EU AI Act. He also discussed the future of AI research, promoting collaboration between policymakers and AI researchers to ensure that AI acts as a positive and equitable force in society.

At the end of the webinar, participants were encouraged to ask questions, and our speaker thoughtfully addressed each one. The webinar ended at 9:00 PM on a warm note as AKM Bahalul Haque received a token of appreciation from Saif Ahmed, the Branch Counselor for the IEEE NSU Student Branch. Attendees found the session valuable and left with a deeper understanding of the ethical challenges and opportunities in the future of AI research.