“AI is transforming the cultural sector just as radically as previous technological revolutions. On the one hand, it offers new opportunities for creators and cultural institutions, but it also raises questions about ethics, ownership, diversity and public values. Through CULTURAI, we are working with partners from across Europe and beyond to build up our understanding of what works, what we collectively consider desirable, and which values we want to protect. We’re pleased that the KB is able to take a leading role in this project, which was initiated by Professor Jeroen van den Hoven (a member of the KB’s Board of Governors) and Dr Xin Gu (Monash University),” says Rosemarie van der Veen-Oei, Head of Research at the KB.

Advice from the Council for Culture

The launch of CULTURAI is in line with the advice published today by the Council for Culture regarding the values-driven development of AI. In its advisory report, the Council advocates (among other things) an incentive programme titled ‘Towards a European AI culture’, which focuses on knowledge development, innovation and collaboration. CULTURAI’s goal is that the use of international research, Living Labs and the development of an international Centre of Excellence for AI (in the cultural and creative sector) will make a tangible contribution to that ambition in the coming years.

International consortium

The project is being implemented by an international consortium of universities, knowledge institutions and cultural organisations from the Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Scotland, Croatia and South Africa. The consortium includes Delft University of Technology, the Delft Design for Values Institute, Monash University European Research Foundation ETS, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), the University of Luxembourg, the University of Edinburgh, the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), UNESCO, the Europeana Foundation, IDEA Consult (Belgium) and the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO, Croatia).