2021-12-31-accounts

Charity number: 1193842

Annual trustee report

1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021

Bristol Robo�cs Laboratory Hardware Incubator T-Block University of the West of England Bristol BS16 1QY

Board of trustees

Professor Thomas Die�erich, Execu�ve trustee Professor Stephen Hanson Dr Sabine Hauert, Execu�ve trustee, Chair Professor Michael Li�man Professor Michela Milano Professor Carles Sierra Professor Oskar Von Stryk

Independent Examiners: Linden Accountants. 21 Sevier St, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9LB.

Objec�ves and ac�vi�es

Charity objects

• par�cular but without limita�on in the science, applica�ons and ethics of ar�ficial intelligence, and by the free dissemina�on of authorita�ve, high-quality research and useful, accessible informa�on about such research.

• the public of, and to s�mulate the interest of the public in, the applica�ons of ar�ficial intelligence.

Charity ac�vi�es

maintaining and modera�ng a website, AIhub.org ( h�ps://aihub.org/), with free content for people of all ages, which is a tool to advance the educa�on of the general public in ar�ficial intelligence. Generally speaking, the aim of the website is to give the general public the tools to enable them to understand ar�ficial intelligence. Our work aims to make complex, specialist, scien�fic material accessible to the wider public.

publica�on of content about ar�ficial intelligence and associated topics. We publish blog posts, ar�cles, tutorials, interviews, video content and podcasts on the AIhub.org website. We invite contribu�ons, curate content and produce our own material. All source material are authorita�ve and produced by experts in the field. We ensure that all informa�on presented on the pla�orm is informa�ve, factually correct, authorita�ve and unbiased, and/or offers a valuable, fresh perspec�ve which is capable of contribu�ng to an enhanced understanding of the science of ar�ficial intelligence.

The website also provides a pla�orm for stakeholders to discuss, debate, and share their knowledge and personal experiences of ar�ficial intelligence with others around the world.

Through our content, the public can augment their knowledge rela�ng to the breadth of AI research, including applica�ons, theory, new technologies, ethical considera�ons, and, importantly, societal impact.

In addi�on to this primary ac�vity, we also focus on providing science communica�on training for undergraduate students, post graduate students, and early career researchers. Through our hands-on training courses, a�endees learn how to communicate their work to a general audience using a variety of media, including blog posts and formal ar�cles, social

media channels and verbal communica�on. An integral part of our course is the focus on balanced, impar�al communica�on, without the hype that typically surrounds the field of AI in the mainstream media. By training the next genera�on of AI researchers to communicate accurately, and without hype, we hope that we can help to shi� the narra�ve on AI from the hyped, inaccurate repor�ng that we tend to see at the moment, to a more balanced and accurate conversa�on about the poten�al advantages and disadvantages of AI technologies.

cover the full diversity of AI research and its prac��oners. This means publishing work from across the field, and not giving precedence to one par�cular technique over another. We work with the diversity and inclusion groups that exist in the field of AI (for example, Queer in AI, Black in AI, Women in Machine Learning) to help amplify the voices of the community that have tradi�onally not had the opportunity to communicate their work.

Trustee statement

The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public

Achievements and performance

the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 have been as follows:

• Publica�on of 268 ar�cles. As men�oned above, all of this content is free for everyone to access. These ar�cles include research summaries, wri�en interviews, podcasts, tutorials, news items, video interview and explainers, and opinion pieces. All content is produced and curated by experts in the field.

• Publica�on of a focus series on the United Na�ons Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). More than 80 ar�cles have been published in this series, from more than 55 expert contributors. These ar�cles have comprised a mixture of research updates, news, opinion pieces and video interviews and explainers. The series has covered the following UN SDGs: Good health and well-being, climate ac�on, quality educa�on, life below water, reduced inequali�es, affordable and clean energy, life on land, and sustainable ci�es and communi�es. The aim of this series was to demonstrate to the public how AI is being used as a tool to address the challenges we face as a society, worldwide.

• Through our Twi�er account, we have provided further informa�on and resources to both the AI community, and to the general public. For example, through informa�ve threads where we have provided links to resources, free training courses, and other

• interes�ng informa�on pertaining to AI. The use of social media helps further disseminate the high-quality informa�on that we publish on our website, allowing us to reach a wider audience, and a different demographic of the general public.

• Every month, we produce a monthly digest. This ar�cle contains a summary of many of the key events, research, applica�ons, and policy decisions pertaining to AI that have taken place during the previous four weeks. Not only is this summary available to the general public (via our website), it is also posted to the members of some of our suppor�ng organisa�ons.

• As a service to the public, we collate all of the free online seminars of which we are aware. These may be found on the resources page of our website. In addi�on, we publish a monthly blog post with a summary of the forthcoming events for the next 45 days. These lis�ngs include all of the links necessary for a member of the public to sign up to a�end these events free of charge.

• Training the next genera�on of science communicators is one of our objec�ves. During the year, we provided two science communica�on training courses for PhD students. These were online, hands-on courses and par�cipants learnt why science communica�on is important, how to communicate about their work using different media, how to write and blog post, and how to avoid hype when communica�ng about their work.

• To help science communicators we have produced a series of bite-sized videos explaining why science communica�on is important and how to do it successfully. These videos are available for anyone to view, both on YouTube, and via our website.

• To help the next genera�on of science communicators on their journey, we run the AIhub ambassadors programme. In this programme, we provide training to students and early-career researchers to help them realise a series of on an aspect of AI related to their research. During the year we’ve worked with eight ambassadors.

• Conferences provide a vital mee�ng place for AI prac��oners to present their work and discuss the latest research and ideas. To report on this work for the general public, we covered 15 conferences during the year, with the aim of elucida�ng some of the exci�ng and interes�ng content presented at these events.

Financial Review

Reserves policy

Our policy is to maintain a small reserve (of the order £5000 - £10000) to cover costs for any late payments from our suppor�ng organisa�ons, any necessary travel for a�endance of mee�ngs and conferences, and for any unforeseen circumstances.

The reserves remaining at the end of 2021 fell within these bounds.

Structure, Governance and Management

cons�tu�on.

Charity type: Charitable company

Member organisa�ons

We are supported by the following leading AI organisa�ons: AAAI, ICML, NeurIPS, CLAIRE, AIJ/IJCAI, RoboCup, EurAI/AIComm, and ACM SIGAI.

Selec�on of trustees

The member organisa�ons have appointment rights under the Ar�cles of Associa�on and the maximum number of trustees that any member organisa�on may appoint is two. No one member organisa�on has a majority appointment right, which is how the independence of the trustee board as a whole is maintained.

board even if the board is at its smallest.

When appoin�ng trustees, the member organisa�ons must consider only appointments that will best advance the purposes of the charity. The "Appointed Trustees" may only exercise the powers they have in the best interests of the charity. There will be at least two "Execu�ve Trustees" on the board who are independent of the member organisa�ons. The trustees will be mindful of the need to demonstrate independence and the need to iden�fy any conflicts that may arise in the charity's work as a result of the fact that the charity will work closely with the member organisa�ons.

including the requirement that trustees must withdraw from discussions rela�ng to ma�ers in which they have a real or poten�al conflict of interests unless invited to remain by the non-conflicted trustees, if they consider it is in the best interests of the charity.

Trustee mee�ngs

Regular trustee mee�ngs are held online once every month. A general mee�ng is held once per year. A quorum at a mee�ng of the Trustees is four or fi�y percent of the total number of Trustees whichever is the greater. Every issue may be determined by a simple majority of the votes cast at a mee�ng. Except for the chairperson of the mee�ng, who has a second or cas�ng vote, every Trustee has one vote on each issue. A Trustee must declare the nature and extent of any interest, direct or indirect, which he or she has in a proposed transac�on or arrangement with the Charity or in any transac�on or arrangement entered into by the Charity which has not previously been declared.

Declara�ons

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature:

Sabine Hauert, Execu�ve trustee

Date: 22.10.2022

Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence Report l January 2021 to 31 December 2021 Independent Examinerfs Report report to the charity trustees on my examination of the account5 of Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence for the year ended 31" December 2021. Responslbllity and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l. Having satisfied myself that the accounts of Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respert of my examination of your charivs accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examlnee5 5taternent I have completed my examination. I confSrm that no materlal matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: l. Accounting records were not kept In accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or 2. The accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. The accounts do not comply with the applicable requlrements concernlng the form and ontent of accounts set out In the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and falr vlew which is not a matter considered as part of my independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Davld Baptlste ACPA Linden Accountant Limited Scrapstore House 21 Sevier Street St Werburgh5 Bristol BS2 9LB Date.. 202L io

Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Including Income and Expenditure Account)

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2021 2020
Note £ £ £ £
INCOME
Income from donations and legacies
-
- Corporate organisations 54,008 54,008 62,220
TOTAL INCOME 54,008 - 54,008 62,220
EXPENDITURE
Expenditure on charitable activities 2 51,097 - 51,097 56,343
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 51,097 - 51,097 56,343
-
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 2,911 2,911 5,877
- -
Balances brought forward 5,877 5,877
Balances carried forward 8,788 - 8,788 5,877
----- End of picture text -----

The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above.

All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 13 to 17 form part of these financial statements

• 11 -

Association forthe Understanding of Artificial Intelligence BALANCE SHEET YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 2021 2021 2020 Note FIXED ASSErs.. Tangible 355et5 2,125 CURRENT A55Ers.. Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 1,848 10,223 12,071 7,319 2,130 9,449 CURRENT LIABILITIE5.. Creditor5.- falling due within one year 5,408 3,572 Net current assets 6,663 5,877 NET ￿SET5.. 8,788 5,877 FUNDS General funds 8,788 5,877 8,7E8 5,877 These fin3nci31 statements were approved by the directors and authorised for Issue on and are signed on their beh31f by.. Sabine Hauert 05.10.2022 Chair of Trustees Charity Registration Number.. 1193842 The notes on pages 13 to 17 form part of these financial statements -12-

Association forthe Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 I ACCOUNTING POLICIES Accountlng conventlon The financial st3tements have been prepared under the historic c05t convention. The financi31 st3tement5 have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities IFRS 102 SORPI Issued In july 2014, and applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Charitie5 Act 2011. Funds strutture Unrestricted income funds Comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects UDre5tricted funds include de51gnated fund5 where the tru5tee5, at their discretion, have Set aside re50urce5 for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used In accordance with specific restrictions Imposed by the donor or the terms of a specific appe31. Incorne All income is recogni5ed once the charity h35 entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received and the monetary value of Income can be measured with sufficient reliability. Income from donations is included when these are receivable, except as follow5.. When the donors gpecify that the donation5 given to the charity must be used in future 3CCOUnting periods When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such Incorne, the income is deferred until the pre-conditiOn5 have been met Incorne from grant5. where there are performance or Service deliver3bles required bythe terms of the gr3nt, are accounted for 35 the charity earns the right to payment through its performance. Expenditure Liabilitie5 3re recognised 35 expenditure as soon 35 there is a legal or constructive oblig3tion committing the ch3rity to the expenditure All eHpenditure 15 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that agree 311 costs related to the category. support costs have been allocated 100% towards the charitable attivities of the charity- Charitable athvities Charitable expenditure cornprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of it5 activitie5 and services lor its beneficiaries. It includes borh the direct pay and non-p3y costs and support costs relating to those activities. Goin8 concern After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adeouare resources to continue its operatlOn5 for the *ore5eeable future and therefore they have continued to adopt the going concern basis when prep3ring the financial statements. Governan￿ costs Governance cost Include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and st3tvtory requirements of the charitVJ and include its independent examination fee5 and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity Including trustee expense5. Tan8ible flxed assets and depreCIa￿On Depreciation has been provided on 311 tangible fixed a55et5 3t rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value of each asset, over It5 eHpected useful life. The rates used are 33% straight line depreciation on all fixed assets. -13-

Association forthe Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 2 DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE Charitable Actiwties Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Totsl Fund5 2021 Total Funds 2020 Direct Wages 44,508 44,508 39,462 Su ort Costs Overheads Audit & Accountancy Fees Bank Fees Leg31 and Professional Expenses Pension Costs Employers, Nl Costs Corporation Tax Printing, Postage & 5tationerv Travelling and Entertainment Other 886 38 4.481 1,090 309 886 38 4.481 1,090 309 1,530 25 11.248 997 1,008 1,378 25 588 49,934 49.934 56,262 Governance Costs Unrestrlcted Funds Restrfcted Funds Trtal Funds 2021 Total Funds 2020 Independent Examination Fee Depreciation 650 513 650 513 81 1,163 1,163 81 CORPOPATION TAX The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within settion 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable G31ns Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to Its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen In the charity. The charitable exemption from Corporation Tax was granted after the preVio￿S year's period end date of 31st December 2020. provisional Corporation Tax was calculated on the surplus at 31st December 2020 Included as a provisional liÈbility Following the granting of a charitable status on 3rd March 2021, this Corporation Tax provision has been reversed. -14-

Association forthe Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 4 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSErs Websl Totsls C05T.. At l Jan 2021 Additions 2,638 2,638 Af 31 March 2021 2,638 2,638 DEPRECIATION.. At l Jan 2021 Charge for the year 513 513 Af 31 Dec 2021 513 513 NET BOOK VALUE.. At 31 Dec 2021 2,125 2,125 At 31 Dec 2020 DEBTORS 2021 2020 Trade Debtors Prep3yment5 1,848 7,319 1,848 7,319 6 CREDITORS.. amounts fallln8 due wlthln one year 2021 2020 Trade Payable5 Accruals 220 6C 135 197 1,042 1,378 2,334 277 2,197 Pension5 Payable Liability Wages Payable Liabilitv 5,408 3,572 7 ANALYSIS OF NET ￿sSET5 BETWEEN FUNDS Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Totsl Funds 2021 Total Funds 2020 Fixed Assets Current Assets 2,125 12.071 15,4081 2,125 12.071 9.449 8.788 8,788 5,877 -1s-

Association forthe Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 8 ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS An8￿$1$ of Fund movement5 Balance blfv4d Ineome Expenditure Transfers Fund Unrestrlcted funds.. General funds 5,877 54,008 151,0971 8,788 5.877 54.008 151.0971 8.788 9 REL4TED PARTY TRANSACTIONS There were no related paty transactions between the charity and the trustees or persons or entities connetted to them during the year 10 STAFF COSTS No employee earned £60,OOD p.a. or more. The 3verage nuTnber ol employees durin8 the year wa5 212020- 11 -16-