TL;DR:
- Fujitsu and the Linux Foundation have launched open source versions of Fujitsu’s automated machine learning and AI fairness technologies.
- The projects, “SapientML” and “Intersectional Fairness,” aim to democratize AI development and tackle biases in AI training data.
- These initiatives will be showcased at the “Open Source Summit Europe 2023” event.
- Fujitsu holds a substantial number of AI-related patents in Japan and introduced the “Fujitsu Kozuchi” AI Platform in April 2023.
- The move addresses the need for transparency and fairness in AI development.
Main AI News:
In a strategic move aimed at revolutionizing the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) development, Fujitsu Limited, in collaboration with the Linux Foundation, has unveiled its cutting-edge automated machine learning and AI fairness technologies as open source software (OSS). This milestone announcement comes on the eve of the much-anticipated “Open Source Summit Europe 2023” event, set to take place in Bilbao, Spain, from September 19 to 21, 2023.
These groundbreaking initiatives, christened “SapientML” and “Intersectional Fairness,” signify a pivotal moment in the world of AI. They grant developers unprecedented access to software capable of autonomously generating code for new machine learning models. Equally significant is the technology designed to address latent biases in training data, setting a new standard for ethical AI development.
The Linux Foundation, on August 24, gave its nod of approval for the incubation of these two transformative projects. Their purpose? To ignite the flames of innovation and experimentation across the global developer community, fostering a dynamic ecosystem around AI and machine learning technologies. The future holds exciting prospects, with plans for hackathons and collaborative events aimed at promoting open source AI.
The vision shared by Fujitsu and the Linux Foundation is one of democratizing AI—a world where developers everywhere can effortlessly and securely harness the latest technological advancements on open platforms. This approach fosters the creation of novel applications and innovative solutions to the myriad challenges facing businesses and society.
Vivek Mahajan, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Product Officer at Fujitsu Limited, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Offering AI technologies as OSS to developers worldwide opens up new opportunities for innovation across various industries by lowering the barrier of entry. We are excited to work together with the Linux Foundation to contribute to the further advancement and spread of AI by launching Fujitsu’s AI technologies for the Linux Foundation’s open source projects ‘SapientML’ and ‘Intersectional Fairness.‘”
Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of The Linux Foundation, concurred, stating, “We anticipate that offering Fujitsu’s automated machine learning and AI fairness technologies as OSS will greatly contribute to the advancement and diffusion of AI. The Linux Foundation welcomes these two projects and looks forward to building the future of AI together.”
Fujitsu’s dedication to open innovation has been evident through its impressive track record. The company boasts the largest number of AI-related patents in Japan, amassing 970 patents from 2014 to October 2022. In April 2023, Fujitsu launched “Fujitsu Kozuchi” (code name), also known as the Fujitsu AI Platform. This platform empowers users to conduct rapid and secure testing of advanced AI technologies. It has provided a diverse range of customers and partners with access to Fujitsu’s most cutting-edge AI capabilities.
AI stands as one of the fastest-evolving technologies of our era, contributing significantly to the resolution of various societal and industrial challenges. However, its continuous progress demands a wealth of expertise in AI technology development and operation. Moreover, concerns regarding AI’s fairness and ethical implications continue to grow. To facilitate the wider adoption and enhancement of AI, an open platform for sharing AI technologies with engineers worldwide is paramount.
As a non-profit technology consortium, the Linux Foundation champions the approval of approximately a dozen select technologies as OSS projects each year. Fujitsu, through its partnership with the Linux Foundation, is now offering automated machine learning and AI fairness technologies as OSS, enabling global developers to access and harness Fujitsu’s technological prowess at the source code level. This move accelerates technological advancement and the creation of novel applications while addressing critical concerns surrounding fairness and transparency in the field of AI ethics.
Figure 2: Example of often undetected intersectional biases that can be discovered and reduced by AI fairness technology. Source: CIO News by Mercadeo
Conclusion:
Fujitsu’s open source AI initiatives represent a significant step towards democratizing AI development. By making cutting-edge technologies accessible to developers worldwide and addressing ethical concerns, these projects have the potential to drive innovation and foster transparency in the AI market. This move aligns with the growing demand for responsible AI solutions and is likely to have a positive impact on the industry, encouraging further advancements and collaboration.
