ELIAS Consortium held a successful 3rd project meeting in Amsterdam

by elias_admin | Mar 27, 2024 | News, Press Release

ELIAS Consortium held a successful 3rd project meeting in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands – March 20-21, 2024

The ELIAS Consortium achieved a significant milestone as it convened for its 3rd project meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Hosted by the University of Amsterdam, this gathering brought together project partners from various institutions to collaborate and drive forward initiatives shaping the future landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) with a special focus on sustainability.

Over the course of two days, the ELIAS Consortium engaged in impactful discussions and innovative deliberations, exploring key topics that ranged from advancing AI-driven design for sustainable systems to ensuring the trustworthiness and transparency of AI applications.

Among the highlights of the meeting were dynamic conversations focused on minimising energy consumption, fostering inclusive economic growth and democracy protection, and establishing robust frameworks for the ethical implementation of AI. These discussions underscored the collective commitment of the ELIAS Consortium to advancing the frontiers of AI research and fostering scientific excellence in Europe, with a strong emphasis on its potential for positive societal impact.

Prof. Dr Nicu Sebe, the Coordinator of the ELIAS project, remarked, “The 3rd project meeting of the ELIAS Consortium has been a resounding success, with vibrant exchanges of ideas and fruitful collaborations among our esteemed partners. We are excited about the innovative outcomes that have emerged from this assembly and look forward to further advancing our shared goals in the field of AI research for sustainability.

The ELIAS Consortium expresses its gratitude to the University of Amsterdam for hosting this pivotal gathering and extends appreciation to all participants for their valuable contributions.

For more information about the ELIAS Consortium and its initiatives, please visit http://www.elias-ai.eu/

Press Release: ELIAS 3rd Project Meeting – 27/03/2024

AAAI Bridge Programme: Collaborative AI and Modelling of Humans

by elias_admin | Mar 15, 2024 | Events, News

AAAI Bridge Programme: Collaborative AI and Modelling of Humans

Image source: Freepik

Vancouver, BC, Canada – 21 February, 2024

On February 21, 2024, the AAAI Bridge Program convened at the Vancouver Convention Centre to explore the intersection of AI and human modelling in an initiative aimed at fostering collaboration between artificial intelligence (AI) systems and human users. This workshop, aptly named the AAAI Bridge Programme: Collaborative AI and Modelling of Humans (CAIHu), drew together leading experts and researchers from diverse disciplines to address one of the most pressing questions in AI today: How can humans and AI systems effectively collaborate to tackle complex real-world problems?

The programme, organised in coordination with the ELLIS Robust Machine Learning and Human-centric Machine Learning Research Programmes, received substantial support from various entities, including the EU H2020-funded ELISE project and the CIFAR Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. ELIAS, in collaboration with its partners Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence FCAI, Aalto University, ELLIS Alicante, University of Manchester, as well as ELLIS Unit Helsinki, Delft University of Technology, University of Alberta, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and UK Research and Innovation, played an important role in supporting and organising this significant workshop.

“We need collaborative AI tools to solve tough problems, and these tools work better when they incorporate data and knowledge about humans,” emphasised professor Samuel Kaski, Director of FCAI and Professor at Aalto University.

The workshop featured keynote addresses from prominent figures such as Microsoft’s Chief Scientific Officer, Eric Horvitz, who underscored the critical need for interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing AI research.

Reflecting on the success of the programme, co-organiser Sammie Katt, a postdoctoral fellow at FCAI, emphasised the value of bringing together diverse communities to exchange ideas and perspective and the significance of bridging the gap between disparate research domains.

The programme also included informative sessions, including a tutorial on user modelling for cooperative AI, led by Samuel Kaski and doctoral researcher Sebastiaan de Peuter. The tutorial delved into the intricacies of collaborative AI and the imperative of improving user modelling to enhance human-AI interactions.

One notable aspect of the tutorial was the exploration of preference learning, which seeks to infer underlying objective functions from user preferences. Kaski and de Peuter showcased the potential of leveraging insights from cognitive science to refine user modelling techniques, ultimately leading to more accurate inferences and better recommendations.

With nearly 400 registrations and enthusiastic participation from the AI research community, the CAIHu Bridge Program marked a significant step forward in fostering collaborative research initiatives aimed at harnessing the full potential of AI-human collaboration.

As the programme concluded on a high note, discussions turned towards the possibility of future recurring events, indicating the continued momentum towards advancing collaborative AI research and modelling of human behaviour.

Read here the orginal article: Bridge program at AAAI focused on collaborative AI and modelling of humans

More information on the programme and panels can be found here: Collaborative AI and Modeling of Humans (CAIHu 2024)

ELIAS Consortium Member Nuria Oliver Joins International Scientific Expert Advisory Panel on Advanced AI Safety

by elias_admin | Feb 23, 2024 | News

ELIAS Consortium Member Nuria Oliver Joins International Scientific Expert Advisory Panel on Advanced AI Safety

Nuria Oliver, Director of ELLIS Alicante and Vice-President of ELLIS, has been selected to join an esteemed international advisory body tasked with providing expert insights for the “International Scientific Report on Advanced AI Safety.” Representing Spain, Nuria Oliver joins 32 experts from 30 nations, as recently announced by the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology of the British Government.

The first-of-its kind report will drive an up-to-date, science-based understanding of the safety and risks of cutting-edge advanced AI systems. Announced at the AI Safety Summit in November 2023, the UK has commissioned Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio, a Turing Award-winning AI academic and member of the UN’s Scientific Advisory Board on AI, to chair the report. The report will serve as a reference point and working tool in upcoming AI safety summits.

The panel members will advise the Chair on the content of the report and are expected to share and promote its findings in their own countries, ensuring that they may guide policymakers and technologists to make informed decisions regarding AI safety. The first publication is expected to take place in the Spring of 2024 and a second iteration will be released at the end of the year. The report is set to become a landmark publication on the most advanced scientific research about the risks and capabilities of frontier AI development. It aims to cement the scientific community’s drive to ensure that discussions on AI safety remain an international collaborative endeavor, bringing together global expertise and diverse perspectives.

Aside from Nuria Oliver, members of the Expert Advisory Panel represent all continents, including Dr. Hiroaki Kitano, CTO of Sony; Amandeep Gill, UN Tech Envoy; Dame Angela McLean, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government and Saif M Khan, senior adviser to the secretary for critical and emerging technologies at the US department of commerce. A full list of panel members is available here.

Nuria Oliver, renowned for her over 25 years of research experience in human-centric AI, will contribute her expertise to the panel. Her participation aligns closely with the mission of ELLIS Alicante, a non-profit private foundation dedicated to responsible AI for Social Good. ELLIS Alicante advocates for transparent, user-centric AI development, focusing on critical issues such as algorithmic fairness, privacy, and the societal impact of AI.

Nuria Oliver, renowned for her over 25 years of research experience in human-centric AI, will contribute her expertise to the panel. Her participation aligns closely with the mission of ELLIS Alicante, a non-profit private foundation dedicated to responsible AI for Social Good. ELLIS Alicante advocates for transparent, user-centric AI development, focusing on critical issues such as algorithmic fairness, privacy, and the societal impact of AI.

Nuria Oliver, renowned for her over 25 years of research experience in human-centric AI, will contribute her expertise to the panel. Her participation aligns closely with the mission of ELLIS Alicante, a non-profit private foundation dedicated to responsible AI for Social Good. ELLIS Alicante advocates for transparent, user-centric AI development, focusing on critical issues such as algorithmic fairness, privacy, and the societal impact of AI.

Remarkably, Dr. Oliver is not only a distinguished figure within ELLIS but also holds an important role in the ELIAS Consortium, further underscoring her commitment to collaborative efforts in advancing AI research and innovation and addressing AI safety challenges and ensuring the positive impact of AI on society.

ELLIS Alicante, our partner in ELIAS, will also contribute to identifying use cases demonstrating AI solutions for Trustworthy AI, with a particular focus on addressing the challenges of responsible AI use in online advertising.

For more information:

Read the related press release issued by our ELLIS Unit Alicante in Spanish and in English.

For more information about research conducted at the ELLIS Unit in Alicante, please visit this website. ELLIS Alicante is a non-for-profit private research foundation focused on ethical and responsible AI for social good. Hence, it is also known as the Institute of Humanity-centric AI.

Contact

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact info@ellisalicante.org or pr@ellis.eu.

Advancing AI Frontiers: Exploring Multimodal Foundation Models at ELLIS Workshop

by elias_admin | Jan 22, 2024 | Events, News

Advancing AI Frontiers: Exploring Multimodal Foundation Models at ELLIS Workshop

ELIAS Consortium Members Engage in Cutting-Edge Exploration of Multimodal Foundation Models at ELLIS Workshop

The ELIAS Project Coordinator Niculae Sebe and Consortium Member Cees Snoek, both directors of the ELLIS Program on Multimodal Learning Systems, lead discourse on advancements in Multimodal Learning Systems.

January 17 – 19, 2024, Oberwolfach-Walke, Germany – In a groundbreaking event, members of the European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability (ELIAS) consortium gathered at the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (MFO) in Oberwolfach-Walke, Germany, for an important workshop focusing on Multimodal Foundation Models. The workshop, organised by ELIAS Coordinator Niculae Sebe and Consortium Member Cees Snoek, both directors of the ELLIS Program on Multimodal Learning Systems, sought to delve into the intricacies of this paradigm-shifting facet of artificial intelligence.

Workshop Deliberations: At the epicenter of the discussions were Multimodal Foundation Models, a paradigmatic class of artificial intelligence models renowned for their prowess in synthesizing multifaceted content, ranging from textual information to images, sound, and videos, often via interactive prompts. Models such as ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, Gemini, and GPT4 were scrutinised for their perceived intelligence, adaptability, and, notably, the ethical concerns associated with their capacity to produce potentially misleading information. The workshop facilitated an international assembly of researchers from both academia and industry to scrutinise recent advancements, deliberate on their impact, and envisage future implications.

The ELIAS Project Coordinator Niculae Sebe and Consortium Member Cees Snoek, leading figures in the ELLIS Program Multimodal Learning Systems, guided the discussions throughout the workshop. Their leadership underscored the collaborative efforts propelled by ELLIS Programs, fostering interdisciplinary engagements across European scientific communities to propel the frontiers of artificial intelligence.

In-Depth Program Structure: The workshop unfolded through meticulously structured sessions, encompassing Foundation Models, Vision & Language, Generative AI, and Multimodality. Renowned experts, including Karteek Alahari, Cristian Sminchisescu, Xavier Alameda-Pineda, Elisa Ricci, Hakan Bilen, Shaogang Gong, Jakob Verbeek, Juergen Gall, Ioannis Patras, Dima Damen, and Dimosthenis Karatzas, shared their insights and research findings.

European Union’s Scientific Support: This scientific endeavor received financial backing from the European Lab for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), aligning with the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 951847, known as ELISE – European Network of AI Excellence Centres.

Future Trajectory: The fruitful discussions and presentations at the workshop are expected to pave the way for further advancements in the field of Multimodal Foundation Models. The collaborative efforts of ELIAS and ELLIS Programs continue to drive progress in artificial intelligence, ensuring its responsible and sustainable development.

For more information:

For a detailed breakdown of the workshop’s scientific program, refer to The ELLIS Multimodal Learning Systems Workshop on Multimodal Foundation Models

For a broader understanding of the ongoing initiatives and endeavors within the ELLIS Program, we invite you to explore the full spectrum of activities at ELLIS Programs.

#ADRF23: A Glimpse into the World of AI Networks of Excellence

by elias_admin | Nov 3, 2023 | News

#ADRF23: A Glimpse into the World of AI Networks of Excellence

AI, Data, Robotics Forum 2023: Generative AI for European society and industry

8-9 November 2023, Inria HQ, Versailles

The much-anticipated AI, Data, Robotics Forum 2023 (ADRF23) is just around the corner, and it promises to provide a holistic perspective on the realm of AI Networks of Excellence. This remarkable event is scheduled to kick off on November 8th in Versailles, this event will bring together some of the brightest minds and most influential players in the field of AI and robotics.

ELIAS will also be presented together with standing alongside other prestigious European Networks of Excellence in AI & Robotics!

The European Networks of Excellence Centres in AI and Robotics will have their first joint booth – search for an unmistakable blue-coloured design in the “RENOIR” exhibition area at the ADR Forum.

This remarkable collaboration has been made possible thanks to the VISION project, which is generously facilitating and sponsoring a joint presentation. For the first time, AI Networks of Excellence will unite under a common visual identity for AI NoE, resulting in a dedicated booth at ADRF23, as the Gold Partner of the ADRF 2023.

ADRF23, known as the “AI, Data, Robotics Forum 2023,” is designed to shed light on the advancements in Generative AI for European society and industry. It serves as the perfect stage for the “AI NoE” Community to make its mark while attracting key stakeholders from the Adra – AI-Data-Robotics-Association ecosystem including European Commission representatives.

Join us on 8 and 9 November in the Inria Headquarters in Versailles and seize the opportunity to connect with members of our community, especially – but not only – during the breaks:

8 November: 11:25-11:50, 13:30-14:15, 15:45-16:00

9 November: 10:15-10:45, 13:00-13:30, 15:00-15:30

Do not miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary convergence of AI excellence at ADRF23, where innovation, collaboration, and the future of trustworthy AI take center stage

More information:

agenda

adrforum.eu

register

ELIAS: Forging a Path Towards Sustainable and Trustworthy AI Innovation

by elias_admin | Sep 9, 2023 | News

ELIAS: Forging a Path Towards Sustainable and Trustworthy AI Innovation

The ELIAS Project, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and sustainability, held its official kick-off meeting in Trento, Italy, on September 6-7, 2023. Hosted by the University of Trento, this event marked the commencement of a four-year journey encompassing Sustainable AI, Trustworthy AI, and Nurturing Excellence in AI.

Artificial intelligence has become a ubiquitous topic of conversation, with numerous research groups around the world actively engaged in advancing cutting-edge technologies across various domains. Yet, true competitiveness in this field requires aspiring to broader and more ambitious goals, particularly for those seeking to establish European leadership in this domain. Such an achievement can only be realised through collaborative networking, and this is where the ELIAS project truly shines.

ELIAS, an acronym for “European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability,” stands out as a pioneering endeavour due to both its scope and innovative approach. With a mission to galvanize the field of machine learning, ELIAS aims to establish itself as a central reference point by fostering collaboration among 34 active affiliates in this sector, along with a cohort of associated partners hailing from 17 different countries.

Over the next four years, researchers will be dedicated to developing new computational systems and mathematical models to provide original and achievable solutions to urgent contemporary issues. Elias’ challenge is to bridge the academic and business worlds at the European level. The tools to achieve this include research, the mobility of doctoral students, and support for young talents who, upon completing their studies, can establish innovative startups. The research areas are diverse but interconnected. For instance, artificial intelligence can be used to identify the best materials for constructing green buildings or environmentally friendly industrial components. It can also be employed to monitor the migration of people arriving in Europe and investigate the motivations behind their journeys. Additionally, AI can be applied to develop cybersecurity prevention systems and models for analysing climate change.

ELIAS will embark on collaborative initiatives in tandem with other European Network of Excellence (NoE) projects, such as AI4Media, TAILOR, and HUMANE AI NET, as well as European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) units. This collaborative effort establishes a comprehensive ecosystem for the advancement of artificial intelligence. Representatives from ELLIS, ELISE, and ELSA offered insights into ELIAS’s role within the broader AI research community.

“

AI for environmental sustainability, equitable economic development, and societal well-being

The University of Trento will coordinate the collaborative efforts among different partners, encompassing universities, research institutions, and industrial entities, all united in their commitment to addressing the pressing challenges of our time: environmental sustainability, equitable economic development, and societal well-being. Niculae Sebe, a professor at the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science (DISI) and the project’s coordinator, highlighted the project’s mission: “Our objective is to ensure that technological breakthroughs in the realm of machine learning not only elevate the quality of life for individuals, but also benefit society as a whole and contribute to the well-being of our entire planet. Our endeavours will revolve around the development of algorithms designed to uncover solutions that promote and attain this sustainability.”

The future of AI research holds immense promise, and ELIAS stands at the forefront of this transformative journey. With its multidisciplinary approach and steadfast commitment to nurturing young talent, the project underscores its dedication to making substantial contributions to the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

The ELIAS Project is dedicated to propelling the scientific advancement of AI in Europe, with the ultimate goal of positioning the continent as a global leader in AI research.

For additional information about the ELIAS Project, please refer:

ELIAS: http://www.elias-ai.eu/