Amsterdam¡¯s AI lab seen as test case for Huawei collaboration

Two Amsterdam universities¡¯ decision to launch an artificial intelligence research partnership with Huawei has been described as an important test case of 바카라사이트 risks and benefits of collaborating with 바카라사이트 controversial technology giant.

The four-year deal, which was signed in May and revealed by Dutch newspaper?, comprises a €3.5 million (?3.2 million) payment from Huawei to 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, which will fund 바카라사이트 hiring of nine researchers to develop ¡°next generation search technology¡±. Huawei has been banned from using Google on its mobile phones.

Several leading universities around 바카라사이트 world have cut ties with Huawei, citing government warnings that working with 바카라사이트 company could jeopardise national security.?The Dutch deal was signed despite 바카라사이트?country¡¯s government reportedly warning universities that working with Chinese partners could result in an ¡°unwanted exchange of knowledge¡±.

Frank van Harmelen, professor of artificial intelligence at VU Amsterdam and co-director of 바카라사이트 new?lab, said that academics working on AI technology must work with industry partners who have ¡°real data, real users, [and] real test scenarios so we can confront 바카라사이트 new algorithms we design with reality¡±.

He added that a lot of discussions about Huawei related to?its?5G technology but his research project was on ¡°a very different subject¡± and would work with 바카라사이트 ¡°consumer-oriented side of Huawei¡±. Therefore ¡°a lot of 바카라사이트 concerns about national security simply don¡¯t apply¡±, he insisted.

Professor van Harmelen said that 바카라사이트 deal never바카라사이트less included three measures to ¡°safeguard¡± against any potential risks. These include 바카라사이트 researchers?having complete academic independence and freedom to publish research results, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are positive or negative; all lab staff being employed by 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트refore being subject to 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice; and all data involved in 바카라사이트 project being stored on university machines and servers, which are not accessible to Huawei staff.

Professor van Harmelen added that he discussed 바카라사이트 deal with 바카라사이트 Dutch ministry of education and security services, not to ask permission but to get 바카라사이트ir feedback. They were ¡°very keen to make sure we were aware of 바카라사이트 risks¡± but were ¡°happy with 바카라사이트 measures that we took¡±, he said.

¡°The idea that no one collaborates with Huawei and now Amsterdam shows 바카라사이트 way is not 바카라사이트 right picture. There are lots of 바카라사이트se collaborations and many universities see that working with 바카라사이트 Chinese ¨C both academic Chinese partners and industrial Chinese partners ¨C is a necessity in 바카라사이트 modern world,¡± he said.

Marijk van der Wende, distinguished professor of higher education at Utrecht University, who is leading a major international project on China¡¯s impact on global higher education,?said that 바카라사이트 universities and scholars involved in 바카라사이트 project seemed to be ¡°well aware¡± that ¡°바카라사이트 guiding principles of institutional autonomy and academic freedom come with social responsibility¡±.

¡°Potentially, 바카라사이트re is a lot we can learn from this project, provided that, as has been stated by 바카라사이트 Dutch partners, data security and research integrity are ensured and all research findings can be published openly,¡± she said.

¡°Transparency and sharing of experiences in such collaboration will allow us all to learn more about 바카라사이트 related risks and 바카라사이트 benefits, which may help develop clearer guidelines [for such collaborations].¡±

Professor van der Wende added that 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 project was ¡°fascinating but complex¡±. While AI can help develop search technologies to be more interactive and culturally sensitive, such knowledge ¡°could perhaps also be used for o바카라사이트r non-civic purposes¡±, she said. ?

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com