AI development and implementation is on the rise in many sectors of society. However, this development is most often driven by commercial interest and industrial development. The network's purpose is to put an emphasis on the urgent need to bring the public interest and the common good to the core of considerations to develop and implement AI. This requires a purpose driven approach to use cases, prioritizing maximization of positive impacts for people and the planet over financial gain. It also requires a high standard for ethical development and governance of such applications and infrastructures in the public interest. The network aims to foster this public interest focus for AI by strengthening exchange in research and development, inspiring collaboration and finding a voice in the overall AI discourse.
The network is meeting regularly for exchange and coordination in online meetings and at relevant conferences and other events. The meetings give room to invite experts to present new findings, projects and methods in the field of public interest AI and engage in exchange in the format of working groups on relevant research and practical questions. In the course of its work the network aims to identify common problems or positions and develop ideas for collaborative action.
Members of the network are researchers and practitioners from different disciplinary backgrounds who belong to institutions with a proclaimed focus on public interest AI or AI for the common good. Their work is directed towards applied outcomes (in applications of AI) or research on real-life applications of AI for the public interest. In general, anyone interested in becoming part of the network can apply to join the network group. To be invited to join the applicant should be able to show their relation to the field of public interest AI research and/or application and an institutional setting supporting this work.