The UA and Ellis Alicante create a mixed R&D Unit on AI to apply to social good

ALICANTE, June 19 (EUROPA PRESS) -

The University of Alicante (UA) and the Fundación Unidad Ellis Alicante have signed a collaboration agreement for the implementation of the UA-Ellis Alicante Mixed Research Unit, which will carry out research projects within the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the social good.

The four-year agreement formalizes and gives a "renewed impetus" to the existing collaboration in AI research between the UA and the Ellis Foundation, according to the academic institution in a statement.

The Mixed Unit will have "first-rate" material resources (common services, infrastructure and scientific equipment) and an expert scientific team in AI, made up of technical and scientific personnel from both institutions, with a "marked interdisciplinary character".

In addition, a commission will define and specify the research projects, which will be carried out "always within the field of AI for social good."

Specifically, three strategic axes are defined aligned with the research carried out at Ellis Alicante. First, the computational modeling of human behavior using AI techniques. Second, the study of the complex relationship between people and intelligent systems (such as chatbots).

Finally, it focuses on addressing the ethical challenges and limitations of current AI systems, such as discrimination and algorithmic bias, violation of privacy, opacity, lack of veracity or subliminal manipulation of human behavior. , as well as the scientific study of the social impact of AI.

From its headquarters in the UA Science Park, Ellis Alicante collaborates regularly with both the Park and the UA in dissemination, training and scientific research activities, with the shared aim of improving social knowledge on this matter. Several UA researchers co-supervise the doctoral theses of pre-doctoral researchers from the Foundation, contributing to their academic training.

The UA has highlighted that this Mixed Unit contributes to consolidating the relevance of Alicante in the international panorama of responsible Artificial Intelligence research.