Artificial intelligence (AI) can be found in many contexts at CERN: embedded in equipment, software products and cloud services purchased by CERN, brought to site by individuals or developed in-house.
Following the approval of the CERN-wide AI Strategy, these general principles are designed to promote the responsible and ethical use, development and deployment (collectively “Use”) of AI at CERN.
They are technology neutral and apply to all AI technologies as they become available.
These principles apply to all areas of CERN’s activities, including:
AI for scientific and technological research: data analysis, anomaly detection, simulation, predictive maintenance and optimization of accelerator performance or detector operations, and
AI for productivity and administrative use: Document formatting, note taking, automatic translation, language correction and enhancement, coding assistant, and workflow automation.
general principles
CERN, members of its staff, and anyone using CERN computing facilities shall ensure that AI is used in accordance with the following principles:
Transparency and explainability: Document and communicate when and how AI is used, and how AI contributes to specific tasks or decisions.
Responsibility and Accountability: The use of AI, including its impacts and resulting outputs throughout its lifecycle, should not displace ultimate human responsibility and accountability.
Legality and conduct: Use of AI must be lawful, consistent with CERN’s internal legal framework and respect the rights of third parties and CERN’s Code of Conduct.
Fairness, non-discrimination, and “do no harm”: AI should be used in a way that promotes fairness and inclusivity and prevents bias, discrimination and any other form of harm.
security and safety: AI must be adequately protected to reduce the likelihood and impact of cybersecurity incidents. AI should be used in a way that is secure, respects confidentiality, integrity and availability requirements, and prevents negative consequences.
sustainability: The use of AI should be evaluated with the goal of reducing environmental and social risks and increasing CERN’s positive impact with respect to society and the environment.
human inspection: The use of AI should always remain under human control. Its functioning and outputs must be continuously and critically evaluated and verified by humans.
data privacy: AI should be used in a way that respects privacy and the protection of personal data.
non-military purposes: Any use of AI at CERN must be for non-military purposes only.
A one-page summary of the main topics of the CERN AI strategy (click on the image to view a larger version)
