2022-12-31-accounts - Association For The Understanding Of Artificial Intelligence

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Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence

Charity number: 1193842

Annual trustee report

1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022

Bristol Robotics Laboratory Hardware Incubator T-Block University of the West of England Bristol BS16 1QY

Board of trustees

Professor Thomas Dietterich, Executive trustee Professor Stephen Hanson Dr Sabine Hauert, Executive trustee, Chair Professor Michael Littman Professor Michela Milano Professor Carles Sierra Dr Oskar Von Stryk

Independent Examiners:

Linden Accountants

Scrapstore House 21 Sevier Street St Werburghs Bristol BS2 9LB

Objectives and activities

Charity objects

The two key objects of the Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence are:

1) To advance the education of the public in the field of artificial intelligence, in particular but without limitation, in the science, applications and ethics of artificial intelligence, and by the free dissemination of authoritative, high-quality research and useful, accessible information about such research.
2) To promote (for the benefit of the community) the knowledge and understanding of the public of and to stimulate the interest of the public in the applications of artificial intelligence.

Charity activities

The Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence carries out its purpose by maintaining and moderating a website, AIhub.org (https://aihub.org/), with free content for people of all ages, which is a tool to advance the education of the general public in artificial intelligence. Generally speaking, the aim of the website is to give the general public the tools to enable them to understand artificial intelligence. Our work aims to make complex, specialist, scientific material accessible to the wider public.

The Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence facilitates the collation and publication of content about artificial intelligence and associated topics. We publish blog posts, articles, tutorials, interviews, video content and podcasts on the AIhub.org website. We invite contributions, curate content and produce our own material. All source material is authoritative and produced by experts in the field. We ensure that all information presented on the platform is informative, factually correct, authoritative and unbiased, and/or offers a valuable, fresh perspective which is capable of contributing to an enhanced understanding of the science of artificial intelligence.

The website also provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss, debate, and share their knowledge and personal experiences of artificial intelligence with others around the world.

Through our content, the public can augment their knowledge relating to the breadth of AI research, including applications, theory, new technologies, ethical considerations, and, importantly, societal impact.

In addition to this primary activity, we also focus on providing science communication training for undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and early career researchers. Through our hands-on training courses, attendees learn how to communicate their work to a general audience using a variety of media, including blog posts and formal articles, social

media channels and verbal communication. An integral part of our course is the focus on balanced, impartial communication, without the hype that typically surrounds the field of AI in the mainstream media. By training the next generation of AI researchers to communicate accurately and without hype, we hope that we can help to shift the narrative on AI from the hyped, inaccurate reporting that we tend to see at the moment to a more balanced and accurate conversation about the potential advantages and disadvantages of AI technologies.

Another objective of the Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence is to cover the full diversity of AI research and its practitioners. This means publishing work from across the field and not giving precedence to one particular technique over another. We work with the diversity and inclusion groups that exist in the field of AI (for example, Queer People in AI, Black People in AI, Women in Machine Learning) to help amplify the voices of the community that have traditionally 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 benefit.

Achievements and performance

The main achievements of the Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022 have been as follows:

Publication of 246 articles. As mentioned above, all of this content is free for everyone to access. These articles include research summaries, written interviews, podcasts, tutorials, news items, video interview and explainers, and opinion pieces. All content is produced and curated by experts in the field.
Publication of a focus series on “New voices in AI”. Through a series of interviews, “New voices in AI” amplifies the voices of PhD students, early career researchers, and those in the field of AI with a fresh perspective.
Through our Twitter account, we have provided further information and resources to both the AI community and to the general public; for example, through informative threads where we have provided links to resources, free training courses, and other interesting information pertaining to AI. The use of social media helps further disseminate the high-quality information 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 article contains a summary of many of the key events, research, applications, 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 supporting organisations.

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 addition, we publish a monthly blog post with a summary of the forthcoming events for the next 45 days. These listings include all of the links necessary for a member of the public to sign up to attend these events free of charge.
Training the next generation of science communicators is one of our objectives. During the year, we provided one science communication training course for PhD students. This was an online hands-on course and participants learnt why science communication is important, how to communicate about their work using different media, how to write and blog post, and how to avoid hype when communicating about their work. We also ran an in-person science communication tutorial at a major international AI conference (IJCAI), held in Vienna.
To help science communicators, we have produced a series of bite-sized videos explaining why science communication 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 generation 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 six ambassadors.
Conferences provide a vital meeting place for AI practitioners 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 elucidating some of the exciting and interesting content presented at these events.
We have served as experts on panel discussions, including: 1) in the session focussing on AI communication at the European Theme Development workshop on “AI: Mitigating Bias & Disinformation”, 2) a roundtable discussion with various stakeholders, organised by non-profit Better Images of AI , about what AI communicators require from images of AI.

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 supporting organisations, any necessary travel for attendance of meetings and conferences, and for any unforeseen circumstances.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence is governed by a written constitution.

Charity Type: Charitable company

Member organisations

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

Selection of trustees

The member organisations have appointment rights under the Articles of Association and the maximum number of trustees that any member organisation may appoint is two. No one member organisation has a majority appointment right, which is how the independence of the trustee board as a whole is maintained.

As the total minimum number of Trustees is five, no one member can have a majority on the board even if the board is at its smallest.

When appointing trustees, the member organisations 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 "Executive Trustees" on the board who are independent of the member organisations. The trustees will be mindful of the need to demonstrate independence and the need to identify 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 organisations.

The Articles of Association include the usual provisions for managing conflicts of interest, including the requirement that trustees must withdraw from discussions relating to matters in which they have a real or potential 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 meetings

Regular trustee meetings are held online once every month. A general meeting is held once per year. A quorum at a meeting of the Trustees is four or fifty 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 meeting and every Trustee has one vote on each issue except for the

chairperson of the meeting, who has a second or casting vote. A Trustee must declare the nature and extent of any interest, direct or indirect, which they have in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the Charity or in any transaction or arrangement entered into by the Charity which has not previously been declared.

Declarations

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

Signature:

Sabine Hauert, Executive trustee

Date: 03/10/2023

Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence Report 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022

Independent Examiner’s Report

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence for the year ended 31[st] December 2022.

Responsibility 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 2011 (‘the Act’).

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 respect of my examination of your charity’s 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 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

Accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
The accounts do not accord with those records; or
The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view 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.

Michael Grant ACPA

Linden Accountant Limited Scrapstore House 21 Sevier Street St Werburghs Bristol BS2 9LB

Date: 20/10/23

Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Including Income and Expenditure Account)

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2022 2021
Note £ £ £ £
INCOME
Income from donations and legacies
-
- Corporate organisations 68,334 68,334 54,008
TOTAL INCOME 68,334 - 68,334 54,008
EXPENDITURE
Expenditure on charitable activities 2 65,840 - 65,840 51,097
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 65,840 - 65,840 51,097
-
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 2,494 2,494 2,911
-
Balances brought forward 8,788 8,788 5,877
Post year-end income adjustment 11 126 - 126 -
Balances carried forward 11,408 - 11,408 8,788
----- 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 for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence BALANCE SHEET

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
2022 2022 2021
Note £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS:
Tangible assets 4 1,246 2,125
CURRENT ASSETS:
Debtors 5 26,513 1,848
Cash at bank and in hand 1,400 10,223
27,914 12,071
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Creditors: falling due within one year 6 - 17,751 - 5,408
Net current assets 10,162 6,663
NET ASSETS: 11,408 8,788
FUNDS
General funds 8 11,408 8,788
11,408 8,788
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These financial statements were approved by the directors and authorised for issue on ……………………………… and are signed on their behalf by: Sabine Hauert

………………………………………………………. Chair of Trustees

Charity Registration Number: 1193842

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

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Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102 SORP) issued in July 2014, and applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Charities Act 2011.

Funds structure

Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have set aside resources 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 appeal.

Income

All income is recognised once the charity has 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 follows:

When the donors specify that the donations given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods.
When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred until the pre-conditions have been met.

Income from grants, where there are performance or service deliverables required by the terms of the grant, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to payment through its performance.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that agree all costs related to the category. Support costs have been allocated 100% towards the charitable activities of the charity.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both the direct pay and non-pay costs and support costs relating to those activities.

Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue its operations for the foreseeable future and therefore they have continued to adopt the going concern basis when preparing the financial statements.

Governance costs

Governance cost include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity, and include its independent examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity including trustee expenses.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation has been provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value of each asset, over its expected useful life. The rates used are 33% straight line depreciation on all fixed assets.

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Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

2 DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE

Charitable Activities

Direct Wages Support Costs / (Overheads) Audit & Accountancy Fees Bank Fees Legal and Professional Expenses Pension Costs Employers' NI Costs Corporation Tax Allowable Penalties Other Governance Costs Independent Examination Fee Depreciation	Unrestricted Funds £ 60,000 1,162 15 - 1,426 985 - 66 657 64,311 Unrestricted Funds £ 650 879 1,529	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - Restricted Funds £ - - -	Total Funds 2022 £ 60,000 1,162 15 - 1,426 985 - 66 657 64,311 Total Funds 2022 £ 650 879 1,529	Total Funds 2021 £ 44,508 886 38 4,481 1,090 309 (1,378) - - 49,934 Total Funds 2021 £ 650 513 1,163

3 CORPORATION TAX

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains 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 previous year's period end date of 31st December 2020; provisional Corporation Tax was calculated on the surplus at 31st December 2020 and included as a provisional liability.

Following the granting of a charitable status on 3rd March 2021, this Corporation Tax provision has been reversed.

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Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

4 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST: At 1 Jan 2022 Additions At 31 December 2022 DEPRECIATION: At 1 Jan 2022 Charge for the year At 31 Dec 2022 NET BOOK VALUE: At 31 Dec 2022 5 DEBTORS Trade Debtors Prepayments 6 CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one Trade Payables Sundry Creditors Accruals PAYE Payable Liability Pensions Payable Liability Wages Payable Liability	Website £ 2,638 - 2,638 513 879 1,392 1,246 year	2022 £ 26,513 - 26,513 2022 £ 480 8,742 480 2,841 277 4,931 17,751	Totals £ 2,638 - 2,638 513 879 1,392 1,246 2021 £ 1,848 - 1,848 2021 £ - - 600 2,334 277 2,197 5,408

7 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fixed Assets Current Assets Current Liabilities	Unrestricted Funds £ 1,246 27,914 (17,751) 11,408	Restricted Funds £ - - - -	Total Funds 2022 £ 1,246 27,914 (17,751) 11,408	Total Funds 2021 £ 2,125 12,071 (5,408) 8,788

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Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
8 ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS
Analysis of Balance Income Expenditure Post year-end Fund
Fund movements b/fwd income adjustment c/fwd
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds:
General funds 8,788 68,334 (65,840) 126 11,408
8,788 68,334 (65,840) 126 11,408
----- End of picture text -----

9 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no related party transactions between the charity and the trustees or persons or entities connected to them during the year.

10 STAFF COSTS

No employee earned £60,000 p.a. or more. The average number of employees during the year was 2 (2022: 2).

11 POST YEAR-END INCOME ADJUSTMENT

This refers to the exchange rate variance for invoice INV-0018 ($2500) raised to AI Communications. The estimated value at 31st December 2022 was £1,848.17; the amount received was £1,973.73 (£125.56 difference).