About

Project Overview

Welcome to BIAS

A four-year project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program that will empower the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Resources Management (HRM) communities by addressing and mitigating algorithmic biases.

Background
& Mission

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly deployed in the labour market to recruit, train, and engage employees or monitor for infractions that can lead to disciplinary proceedings. One type of AI is Natural Language Processing (NLP) based tools that can analyse text to make inferences or decisions. However, NLP-based systems face the implicit biases of the models they are based upon that they learn. Such bias can be already encoded in the data used for machine learning training, which contains the stereotypes of our society, and thus be reflected inside the models and the decision-making.

This can lead to partial decisions that run contrary to the goals of the European Pillar of Social Rights in relation to work and employment and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Despite a strong desire in Europe to ensure equality in employment, most studies of European labour markets have concluded that there is discrimination across many factors such as gender, nationality, or sexual orientation. Therefore, addressing how AI used in the labour market either contributes to or can help mitigate this discrimination is of great importance. That is the main concern of the BIAS project.

Our main objectives

01Objective

Develop reliable and novel tools for bias identification and mitigation in AI/NLP systems

02Objective

Engage in robust stakeholder engagement and co-creation for developing the Debiaser, the BIAS proof-of-concept technology that will identify and mitigate biases and unfairness in decision making

03Objective

Empower the AI and HRM communities through awareness raising and capacity building, thus equipping them with tools to develop better technology and promote better practices that reduce algorithmic bias

04Objective

Gain a richly detailed understanding of biases in recruitment that enhances HRM practices, advances the field of worker studies, and contributes to impactful capacity building

05Objective

Inform future trajectories of NLP and AI research with increased involvement of underrepresented persons in the AI design, development, training, and deployment

06Objective

Reduce biases from the hiring process by creating more equal and fairer practices

Beneficiaries

Who are the BIAS target groups?

Key Players

Platforms using AI systems to analyse data
New technologies developers
Public and private investors

Context setters

Local, national and international policy makers
Standardisation organisations
Professional networks and recruitment platforms

Advocates

Labour unions and individual workers
Educators
Citizen groups and advocacy organisations that promote gender equality and diversity
Academics, researchers, and think tanks