Facebook Is Hoping to Advance Ethics Research Regarding Artificial Intelligence

Facebook and the Technical University of Munich are joining forces on the creation of an independent ethics research center for artificial intelligence. The social network will provide $7.5 million in funding over five years for the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence, with director of applied machine learning Joaquin Quiñonero Candela saying in a Newsroom post that the aim is to advance the growing field of ethical research on new technology and to study the fundamental issues that are specific to the use and impact of AI. Candela called TUM one of the world's top-ranked universities in the AI field, saying that the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence will tap into the school's work in subjects such as robotics, machine intelligence and the social implications of AI. He added that Germany's creation of government-led ethical guidelines on autonomous driving and its work with European institutions on ethical frameworks for AI will also benefit the center. TUM Prof. Christoph Lütge will lead the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence, working with "a diverse advisory board of representatives from academia, civil society and industry."