[SEMINAR] AI Ethics in Action: Understanding the Expertise and Role of AI Ethicists – POSTPONED

Speaker: Donatella Donati, Assistant Professor (RTDa) at DSU Dept. UnivAQ

Date: Wednesday, February 19, 10:00 – 11:00

Title: AI Ethics in Action: Understanding the Expertise and Role of AI Ethicists

Live streaming on “ExEmerge Seminars” team (MS Teams code b7ti8br, link to the meeting here)

Abstract: In recent years, the role of AI Ethicists has become increasingly significant within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. However, there has been limited academic focus on this professional profile, particularly with respect to the normative aspects of the expertise and skills required. This seminar will draw on the paper “Who is an AI Ethicist? An Empirical Study of Expertise, Skills, and Profiles to Build a Competency Framework” (Cocchiaro et al., 2024) to explore the essential qualities of AI Ethicists. By employing a heuristic framework from the paper, the seminar will examine the unique moral expertise of AI Ethicists and highlight the key competencies and roles they should occupy in organizations to ensure responsible AI deployment and ethical decision-making.

Bio: Donatella Donati is Assistant Professor (RTDa) in Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of L’Aquila. Her research focuses on metaphysics and the philosophy of artificial intelligence. She completed her PhD in Philosophy at the University of Nottingham in 2018, with a dissertation titled “No Time for Powers”. Donatella has held visiting research positions at Columbia University, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and the University of Milan. Recently, her research focus has shifted to ethical and epistemological issues surrounding intelligent systems, particularly regarding the concepts of trust and autonomy. She is currently involved in a multidisciplinary project, Exosoul, collaborating with computer scientists.