IIT Madras & Ericsson forge strategic partnership for responsible AI research

In a significant move towards advancing Responsible AI, IIT Madras Center for Responsible AI (CeRAI) has forged a strategic partnership with Ericsson. The collaboration is aimed at conducting joint research activities in the field of Responsible AI, with Ericsson committing to a five-year tenure as a "Platinum Consortium Member" with CeRAI.

Driving responsible AI research at CeRAI

CeRAI, an interdisciplinary research center within IIT Madras, is dedicated to fundamental and applied research in Responsible AI. The collaboration with Ericsson signifies a pivotal step in advancing AI technologies within the Indian ecosystem. Ericsson Research will actively support and engage in all research initiatives led by CeRAI.

Ericsson's focus on future networks & responsible AI

Ericsson, a global leader in telecommunications, recognizes the paramount role of AI algorithms in shaping the future of 6G networks. Magnus Frodigh, Global Head of Ericsson Research, emphasised that future networks are poised to seamlessly merge physical and digital realms, enabling immersive experiences like AR/VR. In this context, responsible AI practices are vital to uphold trust, fairness, and privacy compliance.

Frodigh stated, "Our focus is on developing cutting-edge methods to enhance trust and explainability in Artificial intelligence algorithms for the public good. Our partnership with CeRAI at IIT Madras aligns with the Indian Government's vision for the Bharat 6G program."

Enabling trustworthy AI for future networks

B Ravindran, the faculty head of CeRAI at IIT Madras, highlighted the importance of making high-performing AI systems more accessible in future networks driven by 5G and 6G technologies. He emphasised the need for research to ensure that AI models and their predictions are explainable and aligned with the specific requirements of diverse applications.

"It is crucial that we incorporate responsible AI principles from the outset in such systems. Ericsson, being a leader in future networks, is an ideal partner for CeRAI to drive this research and facilitate the adoption of responsibly designed AI systems," Ravindran added.

Manu Santhanam, Dean of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research at IIT Madras, expressed the institution's commitment to impactful translational work in collaboration with industry leaders like Ericsson. He underscored the importance of AI research as a tool for shaping the businesses of the future.

The collaboration between IIT Madras and Ericsson represents a significant step towards developing AI technologies that prioritise responsibility and ethics, ensuring their seamless integration into the future of telecommunications.