The Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) Institute

In the U.S. and internationally, many organizations aim to encourage trustworthy artificial intelligence systems—iterations of AI that users, developers, and deployers see as accountable, responsible, and unbiased. However, the researchers at TRAILS believe that there is no trust or accountability in AI systems without participation of diverse stakeholders.

• AI systems hold great potential to enhance human capacity but are developed and deployed in ways the public cannot see or understand, and so are unlikely to trust. 
• The TRAILS Institute is the first to integrate AI participation, technology, and governance, promoting novel participatory approaches at every stage of the AI lifecycle. 
• TRAILS researchers will:
  • Develop new methods that promote AI trustworthiness
  • Empower users to make sense of AI systems
  • Analyze and promote inclusive governance strategies
  • Train a multidisciplinary next generation of talent
  • Center voices that have been marginalized in mainstream AI

1. Design: Create new AI technology and advocate for its deployment and use in a way that aligns with the values and interests of diverse groups of people, particularly those that have been previously marginalized in the development process.
2. Methods: Develop novel methods, metrics and advanced machine learning algorithms that reflect the values and interests of relevant stakeholders, allowing to understand the behavior and best uses of AI-infused systems.
3. Sense-making: Effectively evaluate how people make sense of AI systems, and the degree to which their levels of reliability, fairness, transparency, explainability, interpretability, and/or accountability can facilitate appropriate levels of trust.
4. Governance: Explore how policymakers at all levels in the U.S. and abroad can foster trust in AI systems, as well as how policymakers can incentivize broader participation, accountability, and inclusiveness in the design and deployment of these systems.

Core Faculty

• Virginia Byrne, Associate Professor of Higher Education, School of Education & Urban Studies
• Naja Mack, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, School of Computer, Mathematical & Natural Sciences
• Monireh Dabaghchian, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, School of Computer, Mathematical & Natural Sciences

Affiliate Members

• Amjad Ali, Professor of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
• Rhonda Baylor, Assistant Professor of Urban Educational Leadership
• Katayoon Beshkardana, Assistant Professor of Business Administration
• Krishna Bista, Professor of Advanced Studies, Leadership and Policy
• Daniel Brunson, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Maxim Bushuev, Associate Professor of Information Science and Systems
• Robin Butler, Assistant Professor of Community Health and Policy
• Jamell Dacon, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
• Jana Duckett, Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication
• Simone Gibson, Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Professional Development
• Phillip Honenberger, AI Ethicist & Researcher at CEAMLS; Instructor of Philosophy, Dept. of Philosophy & Religious StudiesLecturer of Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Olaniyi Iyiola, Associate Professor of Mathematics
• Martha James, Associate Professor of Teacher Education 
• Kayenda Johnson, Lecturer of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Zheng Li, Assistant Professor of Mechatronics Engineering
• Larry Liu, Assistant Professor of Sociology
• Marciea McMillian, Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Professional Development
• Thomas Ngniatedema, Associate Professor of Information Systems
• Blessing Ojeme, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
• Prashanth Ravula, Assistant Professor of Business Administration
• Valerie Riggs, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Professional Development
• Betty Torrell, Associate Professor of Undergraduate Design
• Nicole Westrick, Assistant Vice President and Dean of the College of Interdisciplinary & Continuing Studies

Affiliate Students

• Michael Adeleke, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Amjad Ali, Graduate Student, Engineering Management
• Tyler Austin, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Elijah Ballou, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Jayden Briggs-Belt, Undergraduate Student, Mechatronic Engineering
• Shajiya Fathima, Graduate Student, Computer Science - Bioinformatics
• Adeoluwa Folami, Graduate Student, Higher Education 
• Vincent Ingram, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Abdul Kanu, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Andrew Kelly, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Michelle Mondrey, Graduate Student, Higher Education
• Osita Odunze, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Chris Perry, Graduate Student, Higher Education
• Keshiyena Pieters, Graduate Student, Science Education
• Adonnis Price, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Pavan Purswani, Graduate Student, Higher Education
• Terell Reed, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Reyniak Richards, Graduate Student, Science Education
• Clyde Tandjong, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Mahki Titus, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
• Danre Travis, Undergraduate Student, Computer Science

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• General inquiries: christine.hoang@morgan.edu & trails@umiacs.umd.edu