The FARI Conference returns on 17 and 18 November in Brussels, find out more.
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About FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute
Presentation
FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute is a non-profit university institute on AI, data and robotics focused on the Common Good. We are jointly initiated by two Brussels universities (VUB & ULB) - uniting interdisciplinary expertise across 10 research groups on AI, data, robotics, social sciences, ethics, and law.
We do research and build bridges with public administrations, industry, and citizens, promoting sustainable AI, data & robotics with a focus on urban and public priority domains such as health, mobility, sustainable robotics, climate and energy, participatory and inclusive society.
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Laura will address interviews and media requests, and any questions regarding FARI's initiatives, events, and research.
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Clippings & Mentions
Press mentions
Discover how our mission to advance AI, data, and robotics for the common good is featured in a selection of articles.
Brulocalis | Europe Sets Boundaries for the Use of Artificial Intelligence
The law on artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as the “AI Act,” came into effect on August 1, 2024. It regulates AI products within European territory. How was this legislation conceived? What are its implications? We explore these questions with Gregory Lewkowicz, professor at ULB and researcher at FARI, an institute dedicated to research on AI for the common good.
RTBF | "Data Altruism": Why and How Your Health Data Could Support Brain Research
What if your personal health data could help advance research on certain diseases? And what if you decided to share it for this purpose? Today, this possibility is becoming a reality in Europe within a specific and regulated framework. Always on a voluntary basis. With the option to change your mind at any time. This is one of the possible applications of what is called "data altruism."
RTL | "Everything Explained": Artificial Intelligence
FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute was featured in "Everything Explained," RTL's science popularization show, broadcast on Thursday, February 6. The theme? A deep dive into artificial intelligence: robots, 3D printers, autonomous cars… Machines are now part of our daily lives and are transforming the way we live and work. The show was available for a month on Replay.
Bruzz | AI Center FARI: "We can test robots and new technologies here"
FARI is an independent AI initiative led by VUB and ULB. We visited their office at Central Station and spoke with experts and managers about the future of AI in Brussels and beyond. "Brussels is a great place to explore these technologies because we have a mix of a vibrant business environment and a multicultural society with many different people. And we have local, regional, federal, and European policymakers in the city with whom we can try things out and discover new opportunities."
La Libre | Is artificial intelligence a public good? An international conference in Brussels to explore this question.
Artificial intelligence (AI) sparks fascination and ethical questions, especially since the arrival of ChatGPT. On November 18-19 in Brussels, the FARI Conference will address the societal issues and challenges posed by these rapidly expanding technologies, from administrations to citizens, and businesses.
Bouw Kroniek | Immersive space in Brussels also offers services for contractors.
Starting in October 2024, FARI will open the doors of its 'Cave' at Brussels Central Station. In this immersive 150 m² space, the artificial intelligence institute of VUB and ULB will be able to replicate Brussels' public spaces, buildings, and parts of neighborhoods to then simulate and analyze future interventions in the urban fabric using AI and enriched data. Initially, the focus will primarily be on research for governments and residents, but projects and collaborations with contractors and architects are also in the pipeline.
Le Soir | Brussels is the capital of Europe, except in Belgium.
BeCentral, the digital campus located at the central station, is expanding. And it's shifting gears, setting its sights on Europe. Its new leader, who succeeds Laurent Hublet, discusses the ambitions of the essential Belgian tech hub. "Brussels must claim its status."
Bruzz | VUB highlights artificial intelligence and robotics at science festival
All week long, you can visit VUB at their various campuses to experience the best in technology and innovation at the FTI science festival. Bram spoke with Hans De Canck, an expert in artificial intelligence: "VUB has been conducting research for forty years, and since last year, they also offer a program in artificial intelligence."
VUB | The Mobility and Artificial Intelligence hackathon at FTI Brussels
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is leading the Flanders Technology & Innovation Brussels science festival. From 15-22 March, the Etterbeek and Jette campuses will host the cream of the crop in technology and innovation, with events in the city too. Sustainable mobility professor Cathy Macharis of the Mobilise research group will lead a hackathon with 60 students in the city centre on 21 March. “We are happy to tap into their knowledge,” she said.
Knack Trends | Z-Technology & Innovation: The FTI Festival in Brussels
The Flanders Technology and Innovation festival will focus on the valorization of innovative scientific research in Brussels and the Flemish periphery. Tech transfer from VUB has already proven to be particularly valuable in the fields of biotech, AI, robotics, and photonics.
Knack | Artificiële intelligentie kan het vertrouwen in de overheid vergroten
Artificiële intelligentie kan ons helpen om teksten vlotter te laten klinken, om afwijkingen in medische scans op te sporen, om verkeersstromen vlotter te laten verlopen en om online illegale dierenhandel op te sporen. Maar soms slaat ze de bal ook volledig mis. Toch gelooft Hans De Canck dat méér artificiële intelligentie de publieke sector een dienst zal bewijzen, al is dat onder voorwaarden.
PUB | The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and FARI are innovating with a new postgraduate program in AI.
Starting February 1, 2024, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute will launch a pioneering postgraduate program titled 'AI for the Common Good'. This 20-day course is the first of its kind to focus on accelerating sustainable innovation through artificial intelligence. It is designed for recent graduates and professionals interested in IT and AI-driven innovation.
Lien multimedia | FARI aims to develop, study, and promote the adoption and governance of AI
Léa Rogliano, Citizen Panel Coordinator at FARI—an independent, non-profit artificial intelligence initiative led by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)—visited Montreal during MTL connecte. Le Lien MULTIMÉDIA took the opportunity to discuss with her about AI in the Brussels region and, particularly, AI for the common good.
La Première | FARI organizes datawalks in Brussels
Carl Mörch, co-director of FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute, introduced the "datawalks" organized by the institute during La Première's 1 PM news broadcast on October 13, 2023. These walks aim to better understand how data is collected in Brussels.
De Morgen | AI Expert Ann Nowé: "ChatGPT is an Irresponsible Experiment"
Artificial Intelligence is not a recent development. In the 1980s, mathematician Ann Nowé was already fascinated by it. As head of the AI lab at VUB, she sees enormous opportunities but also puts things into perspective. "We won't be taken over by an army of robots tomorrow."
EOS | Walk Highlights Data Collection in Brussels: "Even Bike-Sharing Companies Are Massively Selling Their Data"
Cameras, sound beacons, and even shared bikes: cities are full of technologies that collect data about us. The Brussels research institute FARI has recently started organizing data walks where you can explore this virtual layer of the city. Eos joined the walk. "Not all data collection is necessarily bad."
La Libre | The Eliza Chatbot Destroyed a Life: It's Time to Act Against Manipulative AI
The suicide of a man in Belgium following the encouragement of a chatbot highlights the risk of emotional manipulation. 50 academics are sounding the alarm. Developers and providers of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as governments, must urgently adopt a protective legal framework.
The Brussels Times | 'Data walk' in Brussels aiming to highlight where citizen data is collected
Very few people walk through Brussels and think about what data is being collected on them, and where. From Friday, one university is organising a tour around the city highlighting exactly that.
We Love Brussels | The first public-oriented AI Test & Experience Center opens in Brussels
The state-of-art facility will allow companies, institutes, policy-makers, and citizens to test, experiment, and to ultimately advocate for the development of technically robust, safe, and ethically compliant technologies. The facility is operated by FARI, the AI Center for the Common Good institute jointly set up by ULB and VUB, and supported by Innoviris and Paradigm.brussels.
Le Monde | "Algocracy," a Book to Demystify Artificial Intelligence
"Will we give power to algorithms?" asks Hugues Bersini, Professor of Computer Science at the Free University of Brussels, in his book, where he breaks down the functioning of these tools and calls for a new digital democracy.
ActuIA | AI and Animal Welfare: How AI Helps End the Illegal Trade of Pet Animals
Identifying illegal advertisements on the internet more quickly and ensuring the necessary follow-up is one of the four pilot projects assigned to FARI by Bernard Clerfayt, the Belgian Minister for Digital Transition.
HLN | Belgian Scientists Track Illegal Wildlife Trade Online with Artificial Intelligence
Belgian scientists from the Brussels-based Artificial Intelligence institute FARI (VUB-ULB) developed an AI protocol that can determine whether an online advertisement for the sale of (pet) animals is linked to illegal wildlife trade.
RTBF | FARI, a New Artificial Intelligence Institute for Brussels
A new artificial intelligence institute has been established in Brussels this week. This is a first. ULB, VUB, and the regional government announced the launch of FARI, a unique structure that brings together over 300 researchers in Artificial Intelligence.
Libre ECO | FARI: A New Artificial Intelligence Institute in Brussels
On the occasion of Artificial Intelligence Week, organized by AI4Belgium, ULB, VUB, and the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region announced the launch of FARI, a new artificial intelligence institute for the common good.
