Responsible Innovation of AI and the Life Sciences

About

The goal of this Industry Connections program is to strengthen IEEE Standards Association work on biosecurity and safety aligning and supporting with IEEE’s mission of advancing technology for humanity.

Nowhere is the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous intelligent systems (AIS) more apparent than in human health and human biology, where increasingly sophisticated computational data modeling methods have led to dramatic improvements in our ability to precisely diagnose and treat disease, to estimate risks, and to deliver care. Genetic information is increasingly being used in AI algorithms to guide treatment selection and even whether treatment is provided at all. The transformative impact of these technologies and the commodification of our biological and genomic data will have significant impact on the future biological continuum and geopolitical order.

AI and AIS have also expedited public health responses to biosecurity. Advances in computational sciences and bioengineering present a set of entrenched challenges to global security, international standards, guidelines and treaties, and national frameworks, in particular, those geared toward preventing the proliferation of biological risks such as the accidental or deliberate release of pathogens or the deliberate targeting of certain groups of people or even individuals. The colossal challenges of converging technologies will require bold ideas to re-envision future biosecurity and biosafety innovation. Biosecurity is a term encompassing a broad range of policies, practices, and regulatory frameworks, from overseeing biosafety, through dual use research of concern, to biological weapons programs. Moreover, new forms of surveillance fueled by personal and biological data, prompted by a global health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can also enable unprecedented social and biological control.

Get Involved

We welcome new participants from large and small corporations, academia, industry, and government agencies that are interested in Responsible Innovation of AI and the Life Sciences. Members will include but are not limited to:

• Medical practitioners and associations
• Corporate groups and representatives
• Select biotech communities and organizations
• Universities and Research labs
• Government representatives
• Representatives from International Organizations
  

Possible Industry Outcomes

Proposed deliverables and outcomes from this Industry Connections activity may include documents (e.g., white papers, reports), proposals for standards, conferences and workshops, databases, computer code, etc.

• A map of AI-based technologies in the biological and health science fields relevant to biosecurity, including in adjacent domains
• An integrated overview of normative frameworks and related standards activities
• Identification of gaps in the existing frameworks, norms, and standards, and a plan to address these gaps
• Special sessions and workshops focused on the process of developing new standards for responsible innovation of AI and the life sciences

How to Participate

To join the Responsible Innovation of AI and the Life Sciences team, please express your interest by sending an inquiry to: [email protected]

• Filippa Lentzos
• Kobi Leins
• Nancy Connell
  
• Anja Kaspersen
• Esko Brummel – Coordinator

Additional Contact

• Industry Connections Program Administrator