AI, Rights and Democracy

Is it possible to imagine artificial intelligence systems of public governance? Is it possible to implement these softwares without falling into gender, racist or classist biases? What has to be the role of civil society and third sector organizations?

The Barcelona City Council has approved the protocol "Definition of working methodologies and protocols for the implementation of algorithmic systems", which aims to create an internal protocol for the implementation of algorithmic systems and artificial intelligence in the municipal sphere. The Human Rights Institute of Catalonia has published a report on the effects of artificial intelligence on equality and non-discrimination, analyzing where, who, what for and how artificial intelligence is developed and applied. Algorace, an organization that promotes spaces for dialogue with racialized population to raise awareness about the consequences of the racist use of AI, has presented a research that establishes the necessary basis to understand what we face from social collectives when we talk about artificial intelligence, or automated decision systems.

We reflect with these three actors to continue building an artificial intelligence of public governance, auditable and for the common good.

In the second session of the Artificial Intelligence, Rights and Democracy Cycle we have Paula Boet (AJB), Karlos Castilla (IDHC) and Paula Guerra (Algorace), to address the discussion between AI, Public Policies and Discriminations.

The cycle continues with:

• Sessió 3 | IA, comunicació i periodisme
• Sessió 4 | IA, plataformes i treball

📺 Retrieve the session here

📌 Organized by: Canòdrom - Ateneu d'Innovació Digital i Democràtica

The application of artificial intelligence in the world of communication has opened a window of opportunity, with a dark enough slit of challenges. Communicators have at their disposal tools that write content in a few seconds. Journalists can access software that generates automatic images, which have already made the front pages of national and international newspapers. Where is the border between tools to facilitate the work of journalists, and tools to replace journalists? How does the use of these tools affect journalistic precision and disinformation? What is happening in catalan newsrooms?

A few years ago, people thought about how social networks would replace the journalistic task, turning all people into communicators and content creators. What does the normalization of artificial intelligence by the information and communication sector mean? What effect does it have on journalism to apply tools that facilitate technocorproacions disrespectful of privacy and the rights of individuals? Will we go back to singing "video killed the radio star"?

In this session we have Patricia Ventura, PhD in ethics, artificial intelligence, and communication, and strategic communication consultant, Judith Membrives, digitization technician at Lafede.cat, Carles Planas Bou, technology journalist at El Periódico, and Enric Borràs, deputy director of the newspaper AHORA.

The conferences continues with:

• Sessió 4 | IA, plataformes i treball

📺 Retrieve the session here

📌 Organitza: Canòdrom - Ateneu d'Innovació Digital i Democràtica

What if your boss is an aglorithm? The platform economy is an economic model in which transactions and value creation are carried out through digital platforms. This model has changed the landscape of labor relations, by introducing new forms of work such as independent work and the gig economy. Women workers in the platform economy are often hired as freelancers or independent contractors, instead of traditional employees, which can imply a lack of labor protection and violation of rights.

In this panorama, how does the implementation of automated decision systems, or artificial intelligence, affect in terms of labor rights? On the one hand, the mantra is repeated that AI-powered automation can replace traditional jobs, which could lead to unemployment and economic inequality. On the other, platform workers may face precarious working conditions, lack of social protection, and lack of basic labor rights.

The regulation of AI applied to productive work and the platform economy is essential to protect labor rights, but how to articulate it? This may include creating laws and policies that guarantee social protection, job security and equal opportunities for workers in the platform economy. It is also proposed as a key to promote transparency in the algorithms used on the platforms and promote the accountability of companies in terms of protection of labor rights.

In this session we count with Anna Ginès Fabrellas, professor of the Department of Law at ESADE and director of the Institute of Labor Studies, Sergi Cutillas, economist specializing in competition policy, digitization and strategic consulting, member of the Observatory of Labour, Algorithm, and Society (Observatori TAS), and Daniel Cruz Fuentes, Responsible for Analysis and Digital Transformation of CCOO Catalonia.

📺 Retrieve the session here

📌 Organitza: Canòdrom - Ateneu d'Innovació Digital i Democràtica

Artificial intelligence has reached its peak in media popularity and utilization. It is now a fixture in large media newsrooms, used in offices for grant writing, applied in administration to assess requests for social assistance, and even accompanies us at home, suggesting series we might enjoy. Moreover, it's on the streets, identifying potential disturbances to theoretical public peace. But how does data processing actually work? How are these results achieved, and how can we learn from incorrect outcomes?

In this theoretical-practical session with the Col·lectiu Estampa, we delve into the inner workings of AI models. How is the automation of text and image generation achieved? What methods are used to identify image contents? What are the environmental and political implications of the current AI model?

The Canòdrom puts theory into practice and continues the discussions that have arisen within the context of the AI, Drets i Democràcia cycle, exploring the potential and limitations of artificial intelligence.

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