Research centre aims to pioneer 'responsible AI'

A new research centre will address some of the challenges in developing AI and cement South Yorkshire's involvement in the technology, the people behind it have said.

Sheffield Hallam University's Centre of Excellence in AI and Robotics, which was launched last week, already had several projects under way focusing on ethical, inclusive and human-centred research, according to its director Prof Alessandro Di Nuovo.

Di Nuovo said the overarching message of the centre was that "technology should help humans, not replace them".

"All together, we can join our forces to make Sheffield the centre for responsible AI," he said.

The centre was officially launched by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard on Wednesday during an event to showcase the research and intent behind the centre.

"We have a proud history of changing the world through innovation, engineering and industry," Coppard said.

"We can't afford to sit on the sidelines while decisions about the future are made elsewhere."

Discussed at the launch were the projects that were already in progress at the site.

One of them, funded by UK Research and Innovation, was developing an artificial "mind" for robots that developed in a similar way to a child's brain, attendees were told.

Another project was the £6.2m Horizon Europe-funded PRIMI project, where researchers had developed interactive, autonomous robots using technology inspired by the human brain to support the rehabilitation of stroke survivors.

Di Nuovo said: "The focus of our research here, and it's quite unique, we can involve those that are usually marginalised and help to understand how they can benefit as well."

On the subject of AI's adverse impacts, Di Nuovo said: "Every industrial revolution has created change - and change needs to be managed.

"This is a call for policymakers and regulators to try to find the right balance between nurturing and helping the innovation without stopping it, and making it safe for everybody."

He added that South Yorkshire already had an international reputation for world-leading research, and the new facility would equip the region to be "the centre for responsible AI".

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