What is the role of universities in the field of artificial intelligence

1. Artificial
intelligence – the
role of universities
1Tuesday, June 12, 2018 © EUA 2018

2. Artificial Intelligence
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• Established in 2001
• Non-governmental membership
organisation
• More than 800 individual university
members
• 34 National Rectors’ Conferences Members
• 47 countries
• Independent voice of the university sector
• Forum for exchange, peer learning for
members
Brief Profile of EUA

3. Artificial Intelligence
3Tuesday, June 12, 2018 © EUA 2018
What are we
talking about?
Artificial intelligence is a discourse
It refers to a number of different issues that are not
necessarily directly connected
• Big data
• Machine learning
• Automation
- Job loss – changing labour markets
• Machine consciousness
- Ethics
All important, but different topics
(Almost) No-one is an AI expert

4. Artificial Intelligence
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Political agendas Politically a powerfull discourse never the less
Global AI arms race
• US and China in the lead
EU and national strategies
• AI for Humanity
• AI Sector Deal (UK)
• Germany forthcoming
• European Commission 25 March
- Like the French: opportunities, socio-economic
change, ethical aspects

5. Artificial Intelligence
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Why is it important
for universities?
• Universities are training the future innovators and experts
- Responsibility for ethical awareness
- Knowledge about AI beyond the AI experts
• Universities provide innovation environments for AI
- Multidisciplinarity – AI+ (health, mobility, social...)
- Embedded in innovation ecosystems (open innovation)
- Learning and research
• Lifelong learning
- Innovation in learning and teaching (Trends 2018)
- Upskilling, re-skilling for labour market
- Empower citizensCC-BY-2.0 Virginia Department of Education

6. Artificial Intelligence
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... But not everyone
recognises this
European Commission Policy Strategy Centre:
“However, universities are often left in a vacuum, lacking connections
with other research institutions, without significant backing from public
funding, and in unsystematic relationships with companies. European
universities’ AI labs do not have the resources to scale up and become
interconnected powerhouses capable of working on ambitious
largescale research projects or commercial applications. “
Investment in research centres
Not necessarily bad, but where are the students and the
multidisciplinarity?

7. Artificial Intelligence
7Tuesday, June 12, 2018 © EUA 2018
EUA’s reaction Three main points:
• Open data
- We need open access and adequate copyright rules
• Algorithms alone do not lead to innovation
- We need the environments where AI can be applied
• Creative experts and innovators
- Prepare students of all ages for
creative, ethical, and sustainable use
of AI
http://bit.ly/EUAonAI

8. Artificial Intelligence
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Concrete steps Regulatory and funding frameworks
• Copyright
• Ethical code
• University autonomy for innovation in education
• Support for innovation ecosystems
Open Science
Adequate infrastructure
• European Open Science Cloud
• Support for multidisciplinary learning and research
environments

9. Artificial Intelligence
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Summary and
outlook
Artificial intelligence has the potential to be central for
innovation – already today
Universities have a unique role to play in terms of linking
education, research and innovation
With that unique role comes great responsibility
• Ethics
• Sustainability!

10. 10Tuesday, June 12, 2018 © EUA 2018
Thomas Ekman Jørgensen ǀ Senior Policy Coordinator
@Thomas_E_Jorgen
thomas.jorgensen@eua.eu