Pre-conference | AI for Good (?)

SIG AI4ALL

Duration: half day (pm)

Is Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence possible? Exploring uncharted territories and new challenges.

As Artificial Intelligence rapidly becomes embedded in the infrastructure of our institutions—shaping everything from teaching and assessment to climate strategy and policy—the question we must ask is no longer if we use AI, but how we do so responsibly. Can AI truly be both inclusive and sustainable? And what does that mean for higher education?

This session opens by confronting the core tensions at the heart of AI adoption: the potential of AI to widen access to learning, personalize education, and assist in overcoming barriers—contrasted with its risks of amplifying bias, excluding marginalized voices, and contributing to environmental degradation.

Cal Innes (Jisc) takes us into the real-world trade-offs: AI’s carbon footprint, the challenges of digital equity, and the promise of climate-resilient, ethical applications. Bianca De Teffé Erb builds on this by challenging us to rethink who AI is being built for—and who gets left out. Her call is clear: inclusion must be designed into AI from the start, not patched on afterward.

We then ground these provocations in practical contexts. From AI tools that support dyslexic or multilingual learners, to chatbots that simplify complex texts and enhance comprehension, we explore how inclusive learning is already being reimagined. But we also face a governance gap: institutions are moving faster than regulation can keep up.

Ethical concerns around privacy, bias, academic integrity, and transparency are no longer abstract—they are everyday realities in the classroom. This session offers not just insight, but a space to ask difficult questions, share strategies, and co-create a vision for an AI-ready higher education that is just, inclusive, and sustainable—for all.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming higher education—but not without consequences. From algorithmic bias to unequal access, from data privacy concerns to environmental impact, the ethical challenges of AI are as urgent as its promises are vast.

This session brings together thought leaders and practitioners to ask the tough questions: Can AI be truly inclusive? Can we innovate without leaving communities—and the planet—behind? And how can universities lead this transformation with integrity?

With insights from real-world implementations and forward-looking ethical frameworks, we’ll explore how AI is being used to support accessibility, foster equity, and build more sustainable digital infrastructures.

Moderator(s): Giuliano Pozza and Bonaria Biancu