TechCongress hosts mass signing of AI code of ethics

On September 18, 423 organizations joined the Code on the margins of the International Technological Congress.

The ceremony was attended by: Tatiana Matveeva (Head of the Russian President’s Office for ICT and Communications Infrastructure Development), Andrey Neznamov (Chairman of the Commission for the Implementation of the Code), Irina  Rukavishnikova (Russian Senator).

Tatiana Matveeva, Head of the Presidential Department for ICT Development and Communications Infrastructure — “We hope that all participants of the Code of Ethics in the field of artificial intelligence, regardless of their status, will adhere in their work to the basic principles of the Code related to the observance of human rights and interests in the process of development and implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, ethical norms, as well as practical measures to ensure the safety of individuals, society and the state”.

Irina Rukavishnikova, Senator of the Russian Federation — “The accession of such a significant number of domestic IT companies to the Code of Ethics in the field of artificial intelligence shows the responsible attitude of developers to the issues of protecting the rights and legitimate interests of users of digital services and platforms based on neural network technologies. At the same time, the increasing number of participants voluntarily complying with the provisions of this document makes its norms universal — in the future they may become the basis for federal laws aimed at more effective regulation of relations in the field of artificial intelligence technologies”.

The event was joined for the first time by associated signatories as part of associations of organizations — Russoft and the Association of Laboratories for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (ALRII).

Valentin Makarov, President of RUSSOFT — “The competencies of Russian companies in the field of AI are growing, but it is impossible to achieve leadership, especially global leadership, only by selling their AI solutions on the relatively small Russian market. It is absolutely necessary to create strategic partnerships within the industry and with BRICS countries, to form synchronized AI standardization and regulatory systems. RUSSOFT joining the Code of Ethics in the field of AI is a vivid proof that the Russian industry is ready for such cooperation”.

Roman Vasiliev, Head of ALRIA — “Artificial Intelligence is not just a tool for solving problems, it is a force that changes our reality, our economy and our lives. Its potential is enormous, and our task is to ensure that its use is for the benefit of society, with the highest standards of ethics.”

The status of an associate signatory implies declarative adherence to the provisions of the Code without the opportunity to participate in the mechanisms of its implementation, such as participation in the Institute of Commissioners of Ethics in the field of AI and the work of the Commission for the Implementation of the Code.

Separately, 10 Russian organizations signed the Code: PIX Robotics, Open Solutions, IACBCT-SEZ, STRIM Labs, Omega, ISS Art, BSL, Sens-ART, AI-Consulting, and Intelligent Analytics.

The National Code of Ethics in the field of artificial intelligence was developed on the platform of the Alliance in the field of AI together with representatives of the academic community with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation.

Among the first to sign the document were Sber, Yandex, VK, Gazprom Neft and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, as well as other leading companies and institutions. The Code of Ethics of Artificial Intelligence has already been joined by 27 foreign participants from 20 countries. The total number of signatories to the Code is 820.