CAIDE brings a cross-disciplinary perspective on the ethical, regulatory and legal issues relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. Our research seeks to explore the impact, deployment and governance of this emerging technology across society. Our approach is to combine legal, ethical and social perspectives with technological expertise to examine the issues of these emerging technologies in a holistic manner.
While the use of new digital and algorithmic technologies can enhance efficiency and improve the quality of life for all Australians, it can also lead to risks including biased, poor-quality, or unscrutinised decisions. AI challenges our humanity and how we interact with our environment. The advent of new digital technologies and AI raise a number of social, legal, regulatory and technical challenges that transcend domains and require deep, sustained research.
We will examine issues of fairness, privacy, accountability and transparency in this emerging technology to further our understanding, but also to guide the development and appropriate policy settings for effective use across society.
CAIDE News and Events
Our Vision
CADIE seeks to further the ethical use of new digital and AI technology across society by:
- Facilitating cross-disciplinary research, teaching and leadership
- Assisting governments, businesses and community organisations to hold themselves to the highest standards of ethics and equity
- Promoting the fair, safe and accountable use of automated systems
- Ensuring that University of Melbourne graduates and the community are equipped with insight, knowledge and expertise required to deploy automated systems in manner consistent with public and regulatory expectation
Our Approach
We seek to achieve the outcomes by building together a diverse, cross-disciplinary teams to engage in research, research training, teaching and outreach.
The Centre
Led by Professor Jeannie Paterson (Melbourne Law School) and Professor Tim Miller (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology) CAIDE addresses issues of bias, transparency, fairness, privacy, equity and access in a practical and applied manner with a particularly Australian focus. Our research brings together research expertise of Melbourne Law School, the Melbourne School of Engineering, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne.
Directors
Centre Staff
- Gabby Bush
Programme Manager
Melbourne Law School
University of Melbourne
- Dr Yvette Maker
Senior Research Fellow and Research Manager
Melbourne Law School
University of Melbourne
- Dr Tyne Sumner
Subject Development Coordinator
Faculty of Arts
University of Melbourne
Members of CAIDE
CAIDE's research aims to give context to the abstract standards of AI Ethics. Currently, our research is focusing on five key themes:
Trustworthy AI, Fairness and AI, Privacy and AI, Transparent AI and Accountable AI
These five research themes have been identified by the CAIDE team as the core tenants of ethical AI and digital technologies. Under these themes our work includes gender bias in algorithms, data privacy, social implications of technology and human-computer interactions. We are also researching surveillance technologies, legal frameworks for dispute resolution, explainable AI and digital assistants.
Below are our ongoing research projects from across our member faculties and with our partners. Our research projects include the work of our PhD students, research teams, Senior Research Fellows in Digital Ethics and Co-Directors. At the bottom of this page you can also view CAIDE publications. Our media pieces, thought pieces and blog posts can be view on our news, media and events page.
Beyond Anthropomorphism? The AI - Machine - Human - Animal continuum
RESEARCH THEME: Trustworthy AI
This project is a collaboration between the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics and the Digital Society Initiative at the University of Zurich on the AI - Machine - Human - Animal continuum.
Regulatory mechanisms for protecting reasonable expectations of privacy: the roles of consent and fairness in Australian and Indian Data Protection Law
RESEARCH THEME: Privacy and AI
Professor Jeannie Marie Paterson and Adam Lodders (CAIDE) with Associate Professor Mark Taylor (MLS) and Professor Indranath Gupta, Jindal Global University.
From Pockets to Cockpits: The Cultural Context of Digital Flight Assistants
RESEARCH THEME: Trustworthy AI
This research team is lead by Dr Fabio Mattioli, with funding from CAIDE 2020 Seed funding.
The Ethics and Practice of AI Localism at a time of COVID-19 and beyond
RESEARCH THEME: Privacy and AI
Research in collaboration with The Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (IEAI) at the Technical University of Munich and the GovLab at New York University
AI in the Home?: Understanding how Australians Use Digital Personal Assistants
RESEARCH THEME: Trustworthy AI
Professor Jeannie Paterson, Co-Director Centre for AI and Digital Ethics and Professor Megan Richardson, Melbourne Law School
Explainable Artificial Intelligence
RESEARCH THEME: Accountable AI
Co-Director of the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics, Professor Tim Miller
Gendered algorithms: The future as a replica of the discriminative past
RESEARCH THEME: Bias and AI
Sheilla Njoto, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Arts
Developing human-centred explanations for decisions made using AI
RESEARCH THEME: Accountable AI
Henrietta Lyons, PhD Candidate, School of Computing and Information Systems
Online dispute resolution and consumer disputes in Australia
RESEARCH THEME: Accountable AI
Vivi Tan, PhD Candidate, Melbourne Law School
Digital Analysis of Morality as Cooperation
RESEARCH THEME: Fairness and AI
Dr Marc Cheong, Senior Research Fellow in Digital Ethics, School of Computing and Information Systems
Cyber Law Mapping
RESEARCH THEME: Accountability and AI
Dr Kobi Leins, Senior Research Fellow in Digital Ethics, School of Computing and Information Systems
Animals and Digital Technologies
RESEARCH THEME: Trustworthy AI
Dr Simon Coghlan, Senior Research Fellow in Digital Ethics, School of Computing and Information Systems
CAIDE Publications
CAIDE Researchers have published across our areas of expertise in the AI Ethics space.
Study options for students
AI and the Law Breadth Track
This breadth track is designed to give undergraduates at the University of Melbourne the skills necessary to deal with the technical, ethical and legal challenges that arise in designing, governing and regulating AI that is fair, safe and beneficial to society.
The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
Offered as part of the Masters in Computer Science this subject aims to provide students with the necessary tools to: identify social and ethical issues of digital technology particularly artificial intelligence and reason about these issues; communicate concerns, or discuss ideas, from differing points of view; and ultimately build technology with awareness of, and respect for, inclusion and the responsibility that comes with building powerful tools.
AI, Ethics and Science
This subject aims to provide scientists with the practical skills to identify and respond to the ethical challenges posed by new technologies. It will do this through a series of case students that illustrate the ethical dilemmas that may accompany new digital technologies, including through digital platforms, fintech, healthcare and public health, surveillance, policing, and governance applications.
AI, Ethics and the Law (Breadth Subject)
This subject uses interdisciplinary perspectives to investigate AI, ethics and the law. Developing sound ethical, policy and legal responses to AI requires expertise from the technical fields, especially maths, computer science and engineering, and also the social sciences and humanities, including sociology, psychology, criminology, history, ethics, and philosophy.
Juris Doctor Legal Research
CAIDE is offering a second semester JD legal research topic on Regulating AI. The research will explore the role of law in the development of new technologies.
Arts Faculty Internship with CAIDE
The Faculty of Arts offers an internship subject (MULT20010) and (MULTI30019) for undergraduate students. CAIDE has opportunities for students to complete their internship with us.
CAIDE Summer Research Academy 2021
Returning in 2021 for a new PhD and Early Career Researchers.
CAIDE Events
CAIDE News
Short form publications
CAIDE researchers have published a number of short pieces for general audiences
CAIDE Videos
The CAIDE Team have made a series of videos including our 'Three Questions with CAIDE' and our series on 'AI Ethics in Film, Media and Literature.'
Previous event recordings
CAIDE seminars are recorded and shared here, click to watch our previous seminars.
- Address
- Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics
Melbourne Law School
185 Pelham Street
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3053
AUSTRALIA - uom-caide@unimelb.edu.au
- Mailing list
- Subscribe to our mailing list
- Social media
- Twitter: @CAIDE_UoM
- Co-directors
- Professor Jeannie Paterson
Professor Tim Miller