Observatory of the Social and Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence

The Observatory of the Social and Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence (OdiseIA) is an independent, non-profit civil association based in Spain. Founded in November 2019 by ten individuals who believed it was necessary to safeguard the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence, OdiseIA has grown into a multi-stakeholder platform supported by companies, universities, institutions, and individual members. Its mission is to serve as a space for thought, debate, and action on the social and ethical implications of AI, acting as a nexus between academia, civil society, the public sector, and business. OdiseIA's activities include research projects, publications, events, and initiatives aimed at fostering responsible AI. A flagship project is cAIre, supported by Google.org, which evaluates the impact of AI on society, with a focus on AI governance, the impact of intelligent systems in the workplace, and cybersecurity implications for public institutions and companies. The observatory also organizes international hackathons such as OdiseIA4Good, which brings together participants to create ethical AI solutions for vulnerable groups, with support from Google.org and the Pablo VI Foundation. OdiseIA contributors have authored chapters in Springer's AI and Ethics Handbook, reflecting the organization's engagement with academic and policy debates. Governance is provided by a board of directors composed of founding members and active collaborators. The founding president is Idoia Salazar, an AI ethicist and professor, and the founding CEO is Richard Benjamins, a former Chief Responsible AI Officer. Other board members include Jesús Avezuela, Mónica Priefert, Rosa Romero Soler, and Ricardo Palomo. The organization collaborates with a wide network of partners and experts. OdiseIA operates primarily in Spain and the European Union, participating in policy discussions and regulatory debates on AI. It is a private, non-profit entity, not listed on any stock exchange. Its website is odiseia.org.

OdiseIA was founded in November 2019 by ten individuals who shared the conviction that it was necessary to ensure the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence. The organization was established as a non-profit civil association, independent and open to any professional or entity interested in responsible AI. From its inception, OdiseIA aimed to serve as a meeting point and nexus between academia, civil society, the public sector, and businesses. In its early years, OdiseIA focused on building a community of experts and organizations committed to ethical AI. It organized events, published analyses, and participated in public debates on AI regulation and governance. The organization attracted support from companies, universities, institutions, and individual members, growing its network of collaborators. A significant milestone was the launch of the cAIre project, supported by Google.org. This project evaluates the impact of AI on society, with specific attention to AI governance, the effects of intelligent systems in the workplace, and cybersecurity implications for public institutions and companies. The project reflects OdiseIA's commitment to applied research with social impact. OdiseIA also gained visibility through academic contributions. Two chapters authored by individuals linked to OdiseIA were included in the AI and Ethics Handbook published by Springer and edited by Larry Medsker. The handbook synthesizes ethical, regulatory, and public policy implications of AI for non-technical audiences. Another key initiative is OdiseIA4Good, an international hackathon on AI with social impact. The second edition, supported by Google.org and Fundación Pablo VI, invites participants to innovate and create ethical AI solutions to improve the lives of vulnerable groups. Governance of OdiseIA is provided by a board of directors that includes the founding members. Idoia Salazar serves as founder and president; Richard Benjamins as founder and CEO; Jesús Avezuela as founder and secretary; Mónica Priefert as founder and board member; Rosa Romero Soler as board member; and Ricardo Palomo as founder and treasurer. The board brings together expertise from academia, law, business, and public policy. As of the 2020s, OdiseIA continues to operate as an independent, non-profit observatory, advocating for responsible AI in Spain, the European Union, and internationally. It remains a private entity without commercial products, relying on partnerships and support from its network.

• 2019

  OdiseIA founded in November by ten individuals as a non-profit civil association.

• Launch of cAIre project with support from Google.org.

• Two chapters by OdiseIA contributors published in Springer's AI and Ethics Handbook.

• Second international OdiseIA4Good hackathon announced, supported by Google.org and Fundación Pablo VI.

Independent, non-profit multi-stakeholder observatory for ethical and responsible AI

• cAIre project

  Project supported by Google.org to evaluate AI's impact on society, focusing on AI governance, workplace implications, and cybersecurity.

• OdiseIA4Good hackathon

  International hackathon on AI with social impact, supported by Google.org and Fundación Pablo VI.

• AI and Ethics Handbook contributions

  Two chapters authored by individuals linked to OdiseIA in Springer's handbook.

1. 1OdiseIA official websiteodiseia.org
2. 2Quiénes somos | OdiseIAodiseia.org
3. 3Wikidata entrywikidata.org