UNICRI Centre for AI and Robotics


The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute was established to advance understanding of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies with a special focus on crime, terrorism and other threats to security, with the goal of supporting and assisting UN Member States in understanding the risks and benefits of these technologies and exploring their use for contributing to a future free of violence and crime.

History

UNICRI launched its programme on AI and Robotics in 2015 – making it one of the first such initiatives within the UN system. In September 2017, UNICRI signed a host country agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands for the establishment of the UNICRI Centre for AI and Robotics in The Hague. On 10 July 2019, the Centre held a formal celebration of its launch at the Peace Palace, in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Cooperation

The Centre connects a large network of stakeholders, including governmental entities, industry, academia, think tanks, foundations and civil society. It has signed strategic partnerships with the Kay Family Foundation and industry partners, such as 1QBit Information Technologies, Inc., for the provision of support to the Centre.
The Centre has also established cooperative relationships with the United Nations Office of Information and Communication Technologies, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, INTERPOL and other entities.
Together with INTERPOL, the Centre co-organizes the annual Global Meeting on AI for Law Enforcement. The first INTERPOL - UNICRI Global Meeting was held on 11–12 July 2018 at INTERPOL's Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore and the second Global Meeting took place within the framework of INTERPOL World 2019, on 3–4 July 2019 in Singapore. The Third Global Meeting will take place in The Hague, The Netherlands in 2020.
UNICRI and INTERPOL released a report AI and Robotics for Law Enforcement at the United Nations in New York in April 2019. A follow-up report, Towards Responsible AI Innovation, was released by UNICRI and INTERPOL in May 2020.

Activities

The Centre conducts action-oriented research, training and technical cooperation programmes. It is also exploring the conceptual design and development of AI-based tools. Current priorities for this include, inter alia, tools for combating human trafficking, child sexual abuse material, corruption and bribery, the financing of terrorism, terrorist use of the Internet and social media, and identifying programmatically manipulated voice or video content.