Partnership on AI

The Partnership on AI (PAI) is a nonprofit organisation founded in September 2016 by leading technology companies such as Amazon, Google, Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, and DeepMind. The organisation was created to promote the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and address the ethical, social, and economic challenges associated with AI technologies. PAI brings together more than 90 partners from diverse fields, including academia, civil society, and industry, to develop and implement best practices for AI.

PAI’s mission is to ensure that AI benefits people and society while mitigating potential risks. It operates several key programmes, including AI and Media Integrity, AI and the Economy, Fairness, Transparency, and Accountability, Inclusive Research and Design, and Safety-Critical AI. These programmes focus on addressing issues such as misinformation in media, the impact of AI on economic inclusion, and ensuring fairness and accountability in AI systems.

In November 2020, PAI launched the AI Incident Database (AIID), a tool to track real-world cases of AI failures and risks, providing valuable insights for improving AI safety. In 2023, PAI introduced the Guidelines for AI and Shared Prosperity, which aim to guide the responsible use of AI to support an inclusive economic future. PAI also developed a framework for the ethical development of synthetic media in February 2023, in collaboration with companies like Adobe, BBC, OpenAI, and TikTok, focusing on transparency and safety in synthetic content creation.

PAI’s leadership includes board members from major tech companies, and it works with international stakeholders to shape AI policy and governance. The organisation also conducts workshops, research, and forums to facilitate discussions on responsible AI development, ensuring that its initiatives align with global best practices for AI safety and ethics.

The Partnership on Artificial Intelligence to Benefit People and Society (PAI) was officially launched in September 2016 by founding members Amazon, Google, Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, and DeepMind. It aims to promote responsible use of AI and address its ethical, social, and economic challenges. The founding members believed that collaboration across sectors was crucial to ensure that AI technologies benefit people and society. The organisation brought together a wide range of partners, including academics, civil society groups, industry leaders, and non-profits.

The first major milestone was in January 2017, when Apple joined the board, represented by Tom Gruber, head of advanced development for Siri. In October 2017, Terah Lyons was appointed as the organisation’s first executive director. She previously served as a policy advisor to the United States Chief Technology Officer. Her role was key in shaping PAI’s governance and building its framework around responsible AI practices.

In October 2018, Baidu became the first Chinese company to join PAI, highlighting the international expansion of the coalition. PAI continued to grow and expand its membership to include more than 100 partners by 2019, representing diverse fields such as academia, civil society, and industry.

In November 2020, PAI introduced the AI Incident Database (AIID), a tool to track and document real-world examples of AI failures or near-harms. This initiative was designed to help AI developers and users understand potential risks and improve the safety of AI systems.

In 2021, Rebecca Finlay was appointed as CEO, after serving as interim executive director. Under her leadership, PAI launched several key initiatives, including the Guidelines for AI and Shared Prosperity, which were released in June 2023 to guide AI’s role in creating an inclusive economic future.

In February 2023, PAI launched a framework for the ethical development of synthetic media, in collaboration with major companies like Adobe, BBC, OpenAI, and TikTok. This framework focuses on transparency, creativity, and safety in the creation and use of synthetic media.

PAI also continues its work through other major programmes, such as AI and Media Integrity, Fairness, Transparency, and Accountability, and Inclusive Research and Design. These programmes are aimed at improving the ethical use of AI in media, ensuring fairness in AI decision-making, and promoting inclusive practices in AI development.

Today, PAI remains a leading global coalition, working with partners to develop tools, frameworks, and guidelines to advance responsible AI practices. It engages with policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to shape the future of AI in a way that benefits society while mitigating risks associated with AI technologies.

The goals and purpose of the Partnership on AI (PAI) are centred around ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) is developed and used in a responsible manner that benefits society. The organisation’s key purpose is to bring together a diverse group of partners from academia, industry, and civil society to work collaboratively on addressing the ethical, social, and economic challenges posed by AI technologies.

PAI’s main goals and purpose include:

• Promoting responsible AI development: Ensuring that AI systems are created and used in ways that improve people’s lives and do not cause harm.
• Advancing best practices: Providing recommendations and tools to guide the ethical use of AI across various sectors, including media, healthcare, finance, and the economy.
• Fostering collaboration: Bringing together experts from different fields to share knowledge and develop solutions to AI-related issues, such as fairness, transparency, and accountability.
• Ensuring inclusivity: Supporting research and initiatives that make AI development more inclusive, involving diverse communities and stakeholders in the process.
• Addressing AI risks: Identifying and mitigating risks associated with AI technologies, such as through the khttps://businessabc.net/understanding-business-liability-for-slip-and-fall-accidents-what-every-owner-should-know, which tracks real-world harms caused by AI systems.

The Partnership on AI (PAI) has had a significant impact by promoting the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence (AI). One of its key contributions is the AI Incident Database (AIID), launched in 2020, which tracks and reports real-world cases where AI systems have caused harm or near harm. This database helps researchers and companies identify risks and improve the safety of AI technologies.

PAI’s impact also extends to creating guidelines, such as the Guidelines for AI and Shared Prosperity, introduced in 2023. These guidelines provide practical steps for ensuring that AI contributes to an inclusive and fair economy, benefiting workers and society as a whole.

The organisation has also played a crucial role in addressing media integrity by developing frameworks to combat misinformation and harmful content spread through AI. PAI’s synthetic media framework, launched in 2023, helps ensure that AI-generated content is used responsibly and safely.

Through its collaborations with global partners, PAI has shaped AI policies and practices worldwide, encouraging transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI systems. Overall, PAI’s work has been essential in guiding the safe and ethical development of AI technologies that benefit people and society.