A research group from the UIC Barcelona Faculty of Humanities has recently been awarded a Llavor (Seed) project as part of applications for Knowledge Industry (IdC) grants for 2023. The project is led by Magdalena Bosch, lecturer of Philosophy and researcher, and aims to come up with an app to teach users about civic behaviours in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The research group led by Dr Bosch includes Miquel Bastons, Wendy R. Simon, Gabriel Fernández, Abel Miró, Ferran Sánchez and Josep del Hierro.
 
Through the project, researchers wanted to devise a tool, in app format, on how to use different AI applications responsibly. “The goal is to provide citizens with a tool so they can understand what good AI use is, and explain why it is better to use certain images or ways of sharing information about people, among others”, explained Dr Bosch.

As part of this project, the professor and researcher highlighted the great social impact the app could have and the importance of research taking place at UIC Barcelona: “As a University we value people, and we work for the good of citizens. We want to help better society through the knowledge we cultivate at the university, and working on this Seed project at UIC Barcelona will allow us to strengthen aspects aimed towards supporting people and social well-being.”

Dr Bosch also stressed the importance of the project being carried out at the Faculty of Humanities, where there is a constant effort to analyse the ethical aspects of AI. “This project forged a link between philosophy—which can seem very theoretical—with a real-life, current topic with as huge social impact, the use of artificial intelligence”, concluded the professor.

This project is one of the three Llavor projects that the University has been awarded this year. In total, UIC Barcelona has been granted six projects from the IdC call; three Llavor projects and three Producte projects, with total funding worth €470,500.