Peng Wei Shapes Global AI Safety Conversation Ahead of Paris AI Summit
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more ingrained in our economy and society, organizations like the International Association for Safe and Ethical AI (IASEAI) and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) are convening global AI experts like Peng Wei, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at George Washington University, to secure a future in which AI is safe and ethical.
Wei, who is also a member of the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS), spoke at the IAESEAI Conference and the IP Paris’ AI, Science, and Society at the start of February, ahead of the AI Action Summit.
The IASEAI is an independent organization committed to ensuring that advanced AI systems are guaranteed to operate safely and ethically, benefitting all of humanity. IASEAI strives to shape policy, promote research, and build understanding and community around ethical and safe AI.
Wei’s expertise in the intersection of AI and aviation safety comes in part from his NASA-funded research on guarding autonomous aircraft flying in high-density urban airspaces against cyberattacks. Through his research, Wei has cemented himself as a critical voice in the global conversation surrounding safe and ethical AI.
At the IASEAI conference, Wei spoke on AI safety in aviation and avionics applications, addressing several lines of work in AI safety and certification from his research lab. The conference convened relevant stakeholders of safe and ethical AI, including leading experts from academia, civil society, industry, media, and government, to discuss the latest AI safety and ethics developments.
The IP Paris is a world-class education and research institute of science and technology that encompasses six prestigious French engineering schools. The AI, Science, and Society Conference was dedicated to exploring AI's transformative impact on science and society.
As a panelist at the AI, Science, and Society Conference, Wei emphasized that aviation is inherently risk-averse and safety-critical, necessitating a conservative and cautious approach to AI adoption. He acknowledged that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has raised important questions regarding the safety and reliability of AI-driven tools. Wei emphasized that concern underscores the need for rigorous validation and certification processes.
Wei noted that both conferences were attended by esteemed AI experts, including Nobel Laureates, Turing Award winners, the French President's special envoy for the AI Action Summit, and experts from Meta and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
