Globally Sharing the Message of ITEC and Responsible AI

Earlier this year Brian Green was invited to present at various events in Mexico focused on Artificial Intelligence. He presented at two universities, Universidad Iberoamericana, also known as Ibero, and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, also known as UNAM. Ibero is Mexico’s premier private university and UNAM is their premier public university. Green also spoke with seven journalists regarding Spanish language media and presented for a group of CEOs. Green spoke about the Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC), and the ITEC handbook, a collaborative effort between the Center and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education to communicate the impact of technology on humanity. The attendees and media representatives were particularly interested in the ethics of using AI responsibly, and the impact it might have on society. Green says, “Many leaders felt a responsibility to use AI responsibly, and university faculty and students felt a need to teach and learn about AI and how to use it ethically.” 

Green’s presentation on the ITEC handbook was met with curious and positive reactions. As AI has a global impact, it is necessary that every country has the tools they need to positively and ethically interact with the new technology. While populations, such as the US or China, where the development of AI is already being implemented in work practices and other social spheres, Mexico is still developing its AI presence in these areas. However, upon learning about technology ethics frameworks such as the ITEC handbook, business and academic leaders in that region are showing “strong foresight in their work on this.” 

During his 46 hours in Mexico, Green was actively engaging in conversation revolving around the ethical use of AI and presenting frameworks to design strategies for that use. He gave six interviews in one afternoon, and was broadcasted on Ibero’s radio and UNAM’s television channel, further indicating both Mexico’s and the broader Spanish language media’s interest in AI ethics. 

As technology continues to advance and have impacts worldwide, efforts, such as Green’s, to communicate the importance of interacting with these advancements with ethical approaches and frameworks remain key for the betterment of our rapidly changing world. 

Access Green's presentation at UNAM via @TVUNAM's Facebook page (video in Spanish).

Photos by Mario Valencia/UNAM, cropped, and used with permission.

 

This article was written by Santa Clara University graduate, Mia Kanter ‘24, Dance and French & Francophone Studies double major, and a 2023-24 marketing and communications intern at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.