Fujitsu-Ochanomizu University Social Collaboration Program for AI Ethics
This Social Collaboration Program conducts pioneering R&D in AI solutions that enable quantitative and objective gender equality measures by combining Fujitsu’s AI ethics technology and Ochanomizu University’s knowledge of gendered innovations. The Program also develops talent that can contribute to solving social issues through interdisciplinary expertise.
Project Outline
Reseearch Project
As a first step of the joint project, Fujitsu and Ochanomizu University aim to develop an AI solution for highly reliable human resource assessment by the end of March 2024 to contribute to the realization of a diverse, equal and inclusive society. To approach ethical risks in AI models, the two parties will apply Fujitsu’s technology to mitigate intersectional bias to human resource assessment AI technology and verify the fairness of the assessment results using evaluation methods including interviews and workshops, utilizing Ochanomizu University’s expertise in the social sciences. Within the verification tests, the two parties will use AI technology to conduct quantitative analysis of the fairness of the assessments and present the decision-making process and facts behind the analysis results to ensure that the AI eliminates any unequal treatment of women, but at the same time does not create any new unfairness affecting the total majority. Based on the results of the tests, the two parties will further improve this human resource assessment AI to ultimately develop a technology that ensures fair and nondiscriminatory decisions.
Utilizing the results of this joint research, Fujitsu and Ochanomizu University will propose concrete solutions that contribute to the solution of gender inequality and societal issues.
The two partners further plan to hold seminars and workshops on various themes related to AI technologies and societal issues to nurture future specialists and leaders able to address societal issues through cross-sectional collaborations.
Researchers
Role | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
Program Leader/ Social Sciences Team Leader | SAITO Etsuko | Professor and Deputy Director, Institute for Gendered Innovations, Ochanomizu University |
Program Sub-leader in charge of research strategy | INAKOSHI Hiroya | Senior Research Director, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Fujitsu Limited / Visiting Associate Professor, Ochanomizu University |
| Project Manager | KASHIWAGI Shiho | Project Associate Professor (Social Collaboration Program for AI Ethics), Institute for Gendered Innovations, Ochanomizu University |
Program Member in charge of technical strategy | NITTA Izumi | Senior Research Manager, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Fujitsu Limited / Visiting Associate Professor, Ochanomizu University |
Psychology Team Leader | OMORI Mika | Professor (Psychology)/ IGI Researcher, Ochanomizu University |
Computer Science Team Leader | ITOH Takayuki | Professor (Computer Science)/ IGI Researcher, Ochanomizu University |
Social Science Team Member | NISHIMURA Junko | Professor (Social Science and Family Studies), Ochanomizu University |
WAKITA Aya | Associate Professor (Social Science and Family Studies), Ochanomizu University | |
| AIKAWA Shoko | Project Lecturer, Institute for Gendered Innovations, Ochanomizu University | |
Psychology Team Member | ITO Hiroyuki | Associate Professor (Psychology), Ochanomizu University |
MUTO Sera | Lecturer (Human and Social Sciences), Ochanomizu University | |
MIYAKAWA Shoko | Psychology, Human Development Sciences, Graduate School Master’s Degree Program/ IGI Project Researcher (Industry-Academia Collaboration), Ochanomizu University | |
Computer Science Team Member | KOBAYASHI Ichiro | Professor (Computer Science), Ochanomizu University |
IGARASHI Yuki | Associate Professor (Computer Science), Ochanomizu University | |
| ISHITOYA Yuri | Undergraduate student, Department of Information Sciences | |
Program Collaborator | UCHIDA Daisuke | Senior Project Director, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Fujitsu Limited |
TAKAHASHI Hidekazu | Researcher, AI Trust Research Centre, Fujitsu Research, Fujitsu Limited (until March 31, 2024) | |
| NAKATA Tsuneo | Senior Expert, AI Trust Research Centre, Fujitsu Research, Fujitsu Limited (until Dec.20,2023) |
Administrators
Role | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
University and Institution Executive in charge | ISHII-KUNTZ Masako | Trustee and Vice President for Research, International Affairs and Gender Equality/ Director of IGI, Ochanomizu University |
Supervisor | OHTA Yuji | Vice President for Industry-Academia Collaboration and Innovation/ Deputy Director of IGI |
Supervisor | SONODA Toshihiro | Head of Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Fujitsu Limited |
Supervisor | GOTO Masatomo | Senior Director, Data & Security Research Laboratory, Fujitsu Limited |
Administration at Fujitsu | NAGAI Hiroki | Head of Office, Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Office, Technology Business Management Unit, Fujitsu Limited |
OHIRA Kotaro | Manager, Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Office, Technology Business Management Unit, Fujitsu Limited | |
SHIMIZU Masayoshi | Expert, Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Office, Technology Business Management Unit, Fujitsu Limited | |
Administration at Ochanomizu University | YOSHIHARA Kumi | Research Administrator, IGI and Liaison URA Center, Ochanomizu University |
– | ・Research Promotion Division ・Planning and Strategy Division (Promotion of Gender Equality) ・IGI Office |
Project Period
March 1, 2023 – March 31, 2026
(Reorganized as Fujitsu Ochanomizu University Research Lab. Social Collaboration Program from April 1, 2025)
Activities
Regular Meetings
- Monthly Meetings: Planning, progress management and discussions.
- Weekly Meetings: Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Computer Science workshops on AI hiring and fairness in machine learning.