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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence technologies have the potential to revolutionalise almost all aspects of our lives, including the way research is done and managed.

Research and innovation actors increasingly embed these technologies in various steps of the research process.

Why does Artificial Intelligence matter?

Developments in AI are increasingly relevant for research funding and research performing organisations. Science Europe members are already actively involved in shaping these developments by funding research on AI, developing national strategies, and exploring the use of AI in core tasks, such as peer review. In addition, researchers increasingly use generative AI to write scientific proposals, publications, and to develop hypotheses.

At the European level, initiatives on AI in science should account for the values and needs of the research community, and ensure the responsible and ethical use of such technologies.

What are the current priorities and needs for AI in research?

To uphold excellence and fairness in research processes, the use and governance of AI in research management should:

  • embed human values and identify certain standards to uphold them at a practical level.
  • ensure that the use of AI systems is transparent and meets high technical standards, guaranteeing explainability, fairness, robustness and security, taking into account the relevant contexts.
  • promote capacity building of RPOs and RFOs through training and awareness for all staff and researchers involved in the use of AI in the research lifecycle.
  • consider privacy, data protection and intellectual property rights, as they often collide with the transparency elements of AI system development.
  • fully embed sustainability issues in the conversation, rather than see them as a side-effect.

These elements cover the ideal of ‘trustworthy AI’. Practical measures should be defined to build such systems.

AI and Open Science

Artificial Intelligence also strongly interlinks with open science. Researchers have an ever-increasing amount of research data and digital resources at their disposal, with many already using AI technologies for data analysis. Unbiased datasets and data protocols are needed for them to produce quality research. Any future EU legislation on AI therefore needs to complement open science policies.

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