At EUR, we aim to engage with AI responsibly. To achieve this, we apply the principles of Responsible AI by Design. This approach to developing and deploying artificial intelligence systems places ethics, fairness, transparency, and human values at the core, right from the start, throughout the design, development, and/or implementation phases.
Rather than adding ethical checks afterward, this approach ensures that responsibility is embedded throughout the entire AI lifecycle, from concept to implementation and beyond.
The AI Act is in effect – what now?
The use of AI brings many benefits, but also comes with certain risks. For this reason, the European Union has established a set of rules and guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. This is the AI Act.
EUR (Erasmus University Rotterdam) is legally required to comply with the European regulations on AI as laid out in the AI Act. In addition, every organisation may define its own supplementary rules regarding responsible use. EUR uses the Erasmian values as a guiding principle in this.
We aim to comply with AI legislation, remain true to our academic integrity, foster innovation, and uphold our Erasmian values.
Basic AI Knowledge on the AI Act – What do I need to know?
A key requirement of the AI Act is that everyone in the organisation has sufficient knowledge of AI (AI literacy) and can recognise and distinguish AI systems.
Make sure you become familiar with the basic principles of the AI Act by:
- Carefully reviewing the EUR infographic on the AI Act and Responsible AI use
- Learning to recognize and distinguish various AI systems, and understanding which are prohibited, high-risk, and which are allowed.
The AI Act and Scientific Research
The European Union’s AI Act includes a specific exemption for scientific research, designed to protect innovation and academic freedom without requiring researchers to comply with all the obligations of the law directly.
This exemption applies to AI systems that are specifically developed and used for scientific research and scientific development within a closed research environment.