Telecommunications operator Orange and Arborus, have announced the first international charter for inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) under the patronage of the French Secretary of State for the Digital Sector Minister of Economy and Finance, and the Minister of Public Action and Accounts.
According to the two companies, the charter is intended to be a reference for all companies that are committed to equal opportunities.
In addition, its purpose is to guarantee AI that is designed, deployed and operated in a responsible and inclusive way.
This initiative, which is the first step towards the creation of a GEEIS-AI label over the coming months, also benefits from the support of Delphine O, ambassador and secretary general of the UN Women’s Global Forum, and Nicole Ameline, vice-chair of the UN CEDAW Committee.
“Artificial Intelligence is taking on an increasingly important role in our society, which will need time to recover after the current health crisis. We need to be vigilant in order to ensure that automatic decisions based on the processing of algorithms do not discriminate against women due, for example, to the quality of the data used or the design of the code, a field still dominated by men. We must therefore encourage companies to ensure neutral AI development with initiatives such as the international charter for inclusive AI”, stated Cédric O, French Secretary of State for the Digital Sector, attached to the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Minister of Public Action and Accounts.
This international charter, based on seven commitments, will create a framework of trust concerning the design and use of AI systems.
The first signatories of the charter are Orange, Camfil, Danone, EDF, L’Oréal, Metro and Sodexo.
This charter is now available to be signed by companies and organisations that wish to do so.
Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière, deputy chief executive, Orange and head of the Technology and Global Innovation Division, said: “AI at the service of people is a formidable tool for simplifying operations and reducing the digital divide. But we must remain vigilant so that it does not create new inequalities, particularly between men and women.”
Jégo-Laveissière added this is what underpins Orange’s commitment to Arborus. Cristina Lunghi, founder and managing director, Arborus, said: “We are proud to be the first signatory of the international charter for inclusive AI and we hope that many other companies will join us in this venture,” he explained.
“Arborus, whose mission is to drive equality in the workplace, sees the purpose of this international charter as promoting inclusive artificial intelligence; it’s a new tool to support companies faced with the challenge of ensuring equitable AI development , enabling them to comply with their inclusion policies.”
