Bias Busters team from ATU wins the national AI Challenge with ethical AI prototype
The Bias Busters, a five-member team from Atlantic Technological University (ATU), has won in the Northwest regional round and the National Finals of the prestigious National AI Challenge 2024.
Led by ATU's Dr Saritha Unnikrishnan and Dr Alan Hernon, the Bias Busters team have secured the top spot at the Northwest of Ireland regional round held on 31 August 2024, followed by their triumphant victory at the National Finals in Galway on 5 September 2024.
The team's winning prototype is aimed at addressing bias in AI systems, a timely and critical issue that has been the focus of global discussions around ethical AI development. The team’s innovative approach impressed judges and sponsors, demonstrating the potential for real-world impact.
The ATU team, consisting of Oladosu Oladimeji, Dr. Alan Hernon, Nihal Elfodil, and Obed Adjei Peprah, was commended for their innovative and ethical approach to AI development. Their prototype was built to detect bias in qualitative reviews, compare the results with Google Vertex AI model predictions to address potential issues with model predictions and suggest mitigation strategies to avoid biases in data.
Dr Saritha Unnikrishnan, PhD, team lead and supervisor at ATU, expressed her excitement about the team's performance:
"This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and creativity of each member of Bias Busters. It's not just about winning; it's about making a meaningful contribution to the AI community by using AI for societal good. I'm incredibly proud of how the team worked together to develop a prototype that has the potential to create positive change".
Obed Adjei Peprah, a team member and PhD researcher at ATU, shared his thoughts about the challenge.
"Participating in this challenge has been an incredible experience. From concept development to prototype implementation, the entire process taught us the importance of responsible AI development. We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase our work on such a prestigious platform and to contribute towards building ethical AI systems".
The Bias Busters are now setting their sights on further refining their prototype with the hope of bringing their solution to industry partners for real-world application.
The competition, organised by TechIreland and supported by major sponsors including Google, OpenAI, ALPHA Innovation EU, Enterprise Ireland, and Data2Sustain, showcased Ireland's most innovative AI talent over two weeks, from 24 August to 5 September 2024.
Photo caption: (L-R): Alan Hernon, Saritha Unnikrishnan, Oladosu Oladimeji, Obed Adjei Peprah and Nihal Elfodil.
Ivana Hanjs
Communications Officer
Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh (OTA), Éire
Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Ireland
Tel: +353 89 963 9559
E: ivana.hanjs@atu.ie
