Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Launches New Initiative for Human-Centered AI

From CMU Libraries:

Carnegie Mellon is launching the Open Forum for AI (OFAI), a new initiative that will build capacity and understanding for a human-centered AI to move toward augmented intelligence. Leveraging CMU’s AI expertise, OFAI includes a key group of partners that offer a range of complementary skills necessary for collective action for AI strategy and associated policy development. Initial funding is being provided by the social change venture Omidyar Network, NobleReach Foundation, and internal CMU funding.

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Central to OFAI’s charge is the idea that AI development should be focused on augmenting human capacity, with a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure that it advances public interest. OFAI will advocate for wider involvement in the AI ecosystem to shape policy-making and address issues such as AI safety, privacy, and equity. OFAI will focus on five working groups: research, technical prototypes, policy recommendations,community engagement, and talent for service.

To do this, the program will coordinate research and policy objectives, bringing relevant agencies together with representatives to try to influence policy decisions being made. It will also act as a clearinghouse for policy research. As a foundational deliverable, the team plans to create an Openness in AI framework — a system that breaks down the concept of openness to help move the conversation about AI toward more transparent components for fostering transparency, safety, and inclusiveness.

Leading the team is Associate Dean for Digital Infrastructure and Director of Open Source Programs Office (OSPO) Sayeed Choudhury, who was recently appointed senior advisor on open source for the Omidyar Network. Choudhury is a member of the Open Source Initiative (OSI) Board (and its AI committee) and Human AI Collective Advisory Board for BGV and the Ethical AI Governance Group (EAIGG). He is the Software Area Expert and member of the Steering Committee for the Research Data Alliance (RDA) – US.

Also on the team are several faculty members from Carnegie Mellon. K&L Gates Career Development Assistant Professor in Ethics and Computational Technologies Hoda Heidari, who serves as co-lead for the university-wide Responsible AI Initiative, will work with the CMU OSPO to develop the Openness in AI framework. Associate Dean for IT & Operations in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Vincent Sha and the Department of Philosphy’s Professor Simon Cullen have developed technically lightweight and easily usable AI bots and interventions that empower augmented intelligence. Finally, Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics Head and Paul Mellon Distinguished Professor of Hispanic Studies Anne Lambright will serve as an advisor through her role as Director of the Center for Global Humanities and Inclusive AI Research (GHIAIR).

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“There is widespread recognition that to achieve AI’s greatest positive potential while addressing its realized and future risks, we need a holistic, comprehensive approach,” Choudhury said. “OFAI will bring together a diverse range of experts from multiple institutions who will engage directly with various communities to advance this systems thinking approach.”

OFAI is a program of the Ecosystem for Next Generation Infrastructure, or ENGIN. To learn more about ENGIN goals and initiatives, visit the website.

Learn More, Read the Complete Launch Announcement (about 1040 words)

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