Aug 25th, 2022
On August 25, 2022, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, World Animal Protection Beijing Representative Office, Institute of AI International Governance, Tsinghua University, AI for Sustainable Development Goals Cooperation Network, Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence, Technical University of Munich, Centre for AI Research (South Africa), Center for AI and Data Governance, Singapore Management University, and Stanley Ho Big Data Decision Analytics Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong jointly launched the "Principles on Artificial Intelligence for Biodiversity Conservation" initiative in Beijing. "The 2022 International Workshop on AI for Biodiversity Conservation" was held after the launching ceremony.
The people in charge of the partner organizations of the initiative, as well as experts and scholars from institutions such as the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, representatives of well-known technology companies such as Huawei, Megvii, ZEHO, and experts from international organizations such as UNESCO and the Paulson Institute participated in the principles launch ceremony and workshop together with media representatives.
At the ceremony, Zeng Yi, director of the International Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Zhao Zhonghua, chief representative of the World Animal Protection Beijing Representative Office, jointly announced nine principles on AI for biodiversity conservation, including promote ecological prosperity, sustainable development, avoid harm, regulation and protection, safety and controllability, be responsible, compliance with laws, education and training, cooperation.
The principles initiative, the application of artificial intelligence to explore life, understand life and protect life, can promote the protection and regulation of biodiversity in many ways, including biological monitoring, situation assessment, scientific intervention, popularization of education, and promotion of animal protection; In the development and application of artificial intelligence, we should abide by ethics, morality, public order and good customs, avoid unnecessary harm to creatures, and contribute to the research, development and promotion of alternative solutions; related artificial intelligence applications and services must follow international laws, national and regional regulations on biodiversity protection and relevant international consensus, and ensure adequate security; artificial intelligence should promote the value of global sharing of biodiversity.
Xiaoping Wang, the second-level inspector of Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau, the business supervisor of World Animal Protection in China, pointed out in his speech,
Artificial intelligence will play a multifaceted role in biodiversity conservation. The Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the World Animal Protection Beijing Representative Office, and the Institute of AI International Governance, Tsinghua University and other institutions, with keen vision and responsible professionalism initiated these theoretical initiatives on the application of artificial intelligence in biodiversity protection, which has very positive significance for people to create, build and share ecological civilization together. Xiaoping Wang
Yi Zeng, director of International Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the main initiator of the principles, said:
In order to achieve truly sustainable development in a society empowered by technology in the future, it is necessary to move from anthropocentrism to eco-centrism. Human beings and other creatures are ordinary residents on this planet, and they are closely related life communities. This is the original intention and purpose of our advocacy of artificial intelligence empowerment to promote biodiversity conservation Yi Zeng
Zhonghua Zhao, chief representative of the World Animal Protection Beijing Representative Office, said:
Biodiversity is related to the survival of human beings and the continuation of civilization. It is a topic that has attracted worldwide attention to make artificial intelligence serve biodiversity conservation instead of causing new risks. I am very happy to see Chinese scientific and technological workers play a leading role in this field. Zhonghua Zhao
Tee Wee Ang, Project Coordinator of UNESCO Representative Office in China, said:
The Principles on Artificial Intelligence for Biodiversity Conservation are very much in line with the spirit and substance of UNESCO's Recommendations on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. In particular, it is closely related to the values, principles and policies proposed in the Recommendations to promote the vigorous development of the environment and ecosystems, and to live in peaceful, just and interconnected societies. The important contribution of the "Principles" proposed this time is to extend the "Recommendations" to the field of biodiversity conservation and promote the implementation of the "Recommendations". Tee Wee Ang
Professor Zheng Liang, Vice President of the Institute of AI International Governance, Tsinghua University, said:
The use of artificial intelligence to promote sustainable development is an important direction for the development of artificial intelligence. Biodiversity protection is an important issue for sustainable development. I am very happy to participate in the release of the "Principles" and hope to continue to cooperate with the participants on this issue.
Professor Helen Meng from Stanley Ho Big Data Decision Analytics Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said:
The technology of artificial intelligence needs to be developed, and at the same time, it needs to save resources and protect biodiversity, so as to achieve truly sustainable development.
Professor Mark Findlay, Director of the Center for AI and Data Governance, Singapore Management University, said:
Today's release of relevant principles on artificial intelligence empowers biodiversity conservation is a start, and the next step is to promote relevant action plans through in-depth international cooperation.
Professor Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem, leader of the ethics of artificial intelligence research group at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR), and the University of Pretoria in South Africa, said:
The development of artificial intelligence needs to be ecologically centered, moderately used, and concerned about the relationship between different organisms and the environment as mentioned in the "Principles", and it is also for the next generation of human beings. The South African Centre for AI Research is very much looking forward to joining this international cooperation.
Subsequently, the participating experts conducted a special workshop on artificial intelligence and biodiversity protection. The workshop was jointly initiated by Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Singapore Management University and Artificial Intelligence Center (South Africa) as part of the International Conference Series of AI Ethics and Sustainable Development. Experts from various countries shared wonderful cases of artificial intelligence applied to biodiversity conservation.
Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences released the "Symbiosis Panorama", which is an application based on artificial intelligence technology to automatically describe the relationship network between humans and various animals and plants, so as to advocate the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. Huawei introduced that it is working with partners to promote digital technologies such as 5G, optical network, cloud, and AI to help environmental protection and biodiversity protection, including exploration and practice in protection projects on flagship species such as Hainan Gibbon, Snow Leopard, and Asian Elephant.
Yi Zeng, director of International Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced the establishment of the "Working Group on AI for Biodiversity" on behalf of the cooperative organizations, and welcomes academic institutions, international organizations, enterprises, and relevant experts to join the working group to share experience, and jointly and continuously promote the global artificial intelligence empowerment of biodiversity by the artificial intelligence technology community, biodiversity protection field and policy makers, etc.