On the 7th of July at 10am (CEST), Professor Pilar Orero (UAB) from the ALFIE project participated in a panel as part of the WSIS Forum on AI and Virtual Worlds.
Professor Orero appeared alongside panelists to discuss the diverse governance structures taking shape worldwide and their varying philosophical foundation. The session explored the paradoxes and challenges current frameworks have not fully anticipated, including tensions between data protection regulations and AI development, and the emerging issue of synthetic data requiring real-world verification within testing datasets.
Amidst these complex regulatory and technical debates, Professor Orero anchored the conversation around the human element, a core pillar driving the ALFIE project.
“We must put people at the center of data development,” Professor Orero emphasized during the session. “Incorporating strict accessibility standards and diverse datasets is not an afterthought; it is absolutely essential for creating equitable technology.”
This insight cuts to the very heart of the ALFIE project’s mission. ALFIE is dedicated to ensuring that next-generation technologies, artificial intelligence, and virtual spaces are designed to be inclusive from the ground up.
Professor Orero issued a stark warning regarding the alternative: failing to proactively include diverse datasets and accessibility safeguards risks creating virtual worlds that are fundamentally inaccessible to millions of people worldwide. To prevent a new digital divide, inclusivity must be baked into the data that trains tomorrow’s AI.
The ALFIE project focuses on fostering eco-systems of trust and inclusivity in AI and digital spaces, ensuring that technological advancements benefit everyone, regardless of their diverse needs. Stay tuned to our blog for more updates from our research and global engagements.