The AI Symposium 2025, held at Tomas Bata University in Zlín from October 20–24, was a dynamic five-day event themed “From Campus to Community: Navigating through AI Innovations.” It showcased the transformative role of AI in education, industry, and society through discussions on ethical AI, cross-cultural collaboration, and practical workshops.
Two key highlights:
- A panel discussion, which had Laurea colleague Sari Sarlio-Siintola as panel discussant,
- A workshop session by the MANOLO team at Laurea University of Applied Sciences.
The workshop on AI trustworthy assessment delivered by the Laurea University of Applied Sciences project team, comprising Sari Sarlio-Siintola, Paulinus Ofem, PhD., and Mitha Rachel Jose, featured the MANOLO Project. The session covered essential frameworks and tools, especially those used within the project, including:
– The HLEG (2019) Principles and Seven Requirements for Ethical AI
– The Z-Inspection® process of the Z-Inspection® Initiative and Trustworthy AI Labs — its purpose, structure, and key components
– An overview of Societal Impact Assessment (SIA) and its role in evaluating broader implications of AI systems.
The workshop was well-received, and discussions underscored how collaborative reflection and structured assessment can bridge the gap between AI innovation and societal trust.Participants engaged in interactive activities like stakeholder mapping and ethical tension analysis, emphasising the importance of collaborative reflection in building societal trust in AI. The Laurea-led workshop highlighted participants’ ability to grasp complex concepts quickly and apply AI technologies meaningfully across disciplines, enhancing their career readiness.
The symposium affirmed our partner’s Laurea strategic direction in AI and cybersecurity, while also offering practical insights through an AI startup visit at Blogic and discussions. The event fostered international exchange and innovation, thanks to the support of the Faculty of Applied Informatics and the Pioneer Alliance Network.
Quote: AI co-design, development, and its trustworthy assessment are multistakeholder activities. AI developers should not only focus on developing and rolling out AI solutions, but also contribute more to its trustworthiness assessment, as the MANOLO trustworthy assessment workshop highlights.
