Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and what you are working on at the moment?
A: I am a serial social impact entrepreneur. I co-founded and developed the disruptive coding school BeCode, retraining hundreds of adults into skilled web developers no matter their background or (lack of) degree & experience. Building on the experience from creating the Belgian and European startup associations Startups.be and European Startup Network as well as the unique tech education hub BeCentral, I strive to create scalable and sustainable projects with a societal purpose. I currently head the joint ULB-VUB initiative FARI, the AI Center for the Common Good, ensuring local stakeholders can benefit maximally from the expertise on Artificial Intelligence, data and robotics available in the region.
Q: Since February 2024, VUB students can follow the course “AI for the common good”. Can you explain what AI for the common good means for you?
A: Our mission is to study, develop, and foster the adoption and governance of AI, Data and Robotics technologies in an inclusive, ethical and sustainable way. We involve ethical and civic steering committees onboard to actively participate, guarantee the applicability, acceptability and relevance of our projects. The initiative is driven by AI and Data ethics. For every potential project, we ensure to be aligned with the legal requirements of, for instance fairness, transparency and accountability, while respecting academic freedom and integrating ethical and societal concerns. We ensure that all FARI projects consider the EU’s seven key requirements for responsible AI, both in the context of research and in the context of use. All FARI’s projects will respect the ground rules of the responsible research and innovation.
Q: In your view, how is AI shaping the job market for young people? What will be the main challenges and opportunities?
A: AI is revolutionizing the job market by automating repetitive tasks, improving human decision-making, and creating new employment opportunities. It is expected to have a significant impact on economic growth, productivity, and competitiveness. However, it presents challenges such as retraining and upskilling programs, job displacement, and AI’s impact on certain industries. If policymakers, businesses, and workers all work together, we can ensure that AI benefits are realized while minimizing negative impacts.
| Karen Boers is a social impact entrepreneur and the Head of the ULB-VUB initiative FARI, the AI Center for the Common Good. |