European Commission launches the BIAS project to pioneer a more equal and fair labour market 

Officially launched in November 2022, BIAS is a 3€ million research and innovation action comprising 9 organisations from 9 European countries.

In the modern world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in the job market to engage and train employees, monitor infractions, and even make hiring decisions. But what if these AI systems are biased? What if the algorithms reflect societal stereotypes, leading to unfair decisions? 

The BIAS aims to respond to these possible challenges by focusing on empowering the AI and Human Resources Management (HRM) communities by addressing and mitigating algorithmic biases. 

The BIAS project uses an interdisciplinary research and impact strategy, combining AI research and development with a focus on Natural Language Processing and Case-Based Reasoning, ethnographic fieldwork, and the creation of the Debiaser, an open-source software that identifies and mitigates bias and unfairness in decision making. 

The BIAS project is also empowering the AI and HRM communities through awareness-raising and capacity building, providing them tools to develop better technology and promote better practices that reduce algorithmic bias. 

The BIAS project is bringing together a range of stakeholders, including platforms using AI systems to analyse data, AI developers, policy makers, educators, individual workers, employers, and more. All these stakeholders can be part of the BIAS network community: the National Labs. Through them, each involved country will bring together all these audiences, with a special focus on underrepresented communities. Such stakeholders will be engaged in several BIAS activities and initiatives and have access to regular and personalised information about the project. 

Currently, the project is also promoting a survey on discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization of workers to understand their experiences and attitudes towards AI applications in the labour market. The survey can be found in 19 languages and it will support the development of the Debiaser.  

The BIAS’ project is a 4-year-long project, composed of 4 universities, 3 communication partners, 1 large industrial organisation and 1 SME.  

Know more about the BIAS project here: https://www.biasproject.eu/ 
Know more about the National Labs and join them here: https://www.biasproject.eu/nationallabs/