's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands - Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS), an institute providing innovative educational programs, research, and support for business and society in the field of data science, and Deloitte, a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services, have partnered to establish a research lab focused on auditing for trustworthy AI software systems.
SAFEGUARD LAB
The new SAFEGUARD lab, part of the ROBUST AI program, will explore, develop and validate novel auditing theories, tools, and methodologies to monitor and audit whether AI applications adhere in terms of fairness, explainability, transparency, robustness and reliability, respect of privacy, and safety and security. The lab will have 5 PhD positions initially, to be expanded later.
“The establishment of the SAFEGUARD lab was celebrated on 12th July by representatives of Deloitte and JADS. Wiel Moonen, partner and Audit & Assurance Risk Leader Deloitte Accountants B.V. said: “The impact AI on decision-making is increasing sharply. Given the impact on society, it is important that AI is transparent, auditable and reliable. The SAFEGUARD lab is an exciting opportunity to develop new approaches to auditing AI software. We look forward to collaborating with JADS to advance the field of data science and help ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI.”
The SAFEGUARD Lab will do research in multiple areas, such as assessing bias in AI and finding ways to make AI explainable and transparent. Researchers will also develop tools to ensure accountability and reliability through audits and prototypes. Lastly, they will create an experimental toolchain to test AI software with machine-learning and continuous testing techniques as part of a DevOps pipeline. The Lab will start in the fall of 2023.
"This partnership with Deloitte is a huge leap forward to ascertaining trustworthy AI-applications," said Prof. Dr. Willem-Jan van den Heuvel, professor at JADS. "We are excited to collaborate with Deloitte to develop novel theories, tools, and methodologies that will help ensure the fair, explainable, and responsible use of today’s and future AI applications such as ChatGPT. What is special about this lab is that the research is designed to combine research disciplines that were previously unlikely to work together, ranging from theology to technology.
Robust AI
The SAFEGUARD lab is part of the ROBUST AI program, a new initiative by the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI), supported by the University of Amsterdam and 51 government, industry and knowledge-sector partners. The program aims to strengthen the Dutch artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem by boosting fundamental AI research.
For more information about the collaboration between Deloitte and JADS, please contact Els Oostveen, Communications Manager at JADS, at
e.h.oostveen@jads.nl .
About JADS
The Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) is a unique cooperation between the Province of North Brabant, the Municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology. At JADS, we believe that data science can provide answers to society’s complex issues. We provide innovative educational programs, data science research, and support for business and society. With a team of lecturers, students, scientists and entrepreneurs, we work on creating impact with data science. We do this by connecting people, sectors and industries: in the past 5 years we have been working with 300+ organizations on data-related projects. Our main drivers? Doing cool stuff that matters with data. Our location at the former monastery Mariënburg in Den Bosch houses a vibrant campus fully dedicated to data science.
About Deloitte
Deloitte is a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services. With more than 150 years of hard work and commitment to making a real difference, our organization has grown in scale and diversity—approximately 286,000 people in 150 countries and territories, providing these services—yet our shared culture remains the same. Our organization serves four out of the five Fortune Global 500® companies.
