Edinburgh declaration on responsibility for responsible AI

In 2022, the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) programme funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) brought together experts in key disciplines across the UK to investigate the responsibility dimension of AI-driven autonomous systems, especially in areas where we might realistically expect that AI systems will be used to complement or substitute for human decision making.

On the 10th of July 2023, the four Responsibility project teams met in Edinburgh, Scotland to share the preliminary findings of their research, and to identify any common ground across our very different approaches to the challenge, which range across computer science, robotics, philosophy, law and the social sciences. Their declaration, which will soon be followed by an expanded version including concrete examples of application to AI and autonomous systems, reflects that common ground.

It is hoped this will start a wider conversation about what matters most when we talk about “Responsible AI’ and responsibility for autonomous systems.*

*This declaration is a collaboration among researchers in the UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) programme who work on Responsibility in the context of design, development, procurement, use, governance and regulation of AI and autonomous systems. It does not necessarily represent the views of the wider TAS programme, its partners or universities.

The full declaration can be read here: Edinburgh declaration on responsibility for responsible AI