On November 18, 2025, the Brussels-based research institute on AI, FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute, led the official launch of the Public Interest AI Network (PIAI Network) – a global alliance bringing together leading research institutions from Europe, the Americas, and Asia to ensure that artificial intelligence serves the public interest. The initiative responds to the growing need for coordinated, ethical, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in the development and governance of AI technologies.  

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence presents both extraordinary opportunities and profound challenges. As AI increasingly shapes public life, it becomes essential to create shared frameworks that prioritize human values, transparency, and societal benefit. The Public Interest AI Network aims to facilitate this collective effort. 

The network was initiated by the AI & Society Lab at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) and FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute Brussels (VUB & ULB). It brings together a group of leading partners committed to advancing research, policy, and practice in responsible AI, including: MI4People gGmbH (Germany), University of São Paulo (Brazil), Mila – Institut québécois d’intelligence artificielle (Canada), Transformations Community (USA), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, RIKEN (Japan), and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence – CENIA (Chile). 

Through learning calls, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities, the PIAI Network provides a platform for dialogue and joint action. Its objectives are to: 

– Strengthen international and interdisciplinary collaboration on AI for the common good, 

– Exchange best practices, methodologies, and research tools, 

– Coordinate joint funding and project opportunities, 

– Shape a shared global agenda that balances technological innovation with societal responsibility. 

The announcement was made during the public FARI Brussels Conference on AI, Data and Robotics, which gathered over 900 attendees from research, industry, and the public sector. 

“The Public Interest AI Research Network is a great initiative to exchange global perspectives. Learning from each other and discussing how AI can support public interest goals is an important alternative to build and demand. We hope the network can also foster synchronized efforts and create a stronger voice for societal perspectives on AI,” said Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz, Director of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society. 

“I am extremely happy that the Public Interest AI Research Network has been set up, and consists of so many leading research institutes. This is a timely initiative tackling one of the most pressing and promising issues of today,” added Prof. Dr. Pieter Ballon, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

The PIAI Network was established in November 2025, following a series of informal exchanges and collaborative learning sessions between institutions working on AI and society. It aims to channel their collective experience into a sustainable, global collaboration framework that promotes inclusive and transparent AI development.