On October 22–23, 2024, the second edition of the AI<>BA (AI Business Adaptation) conference took place at the Silesian Museum in Katowice. The event brought together artificial intelligence enthusiasts, business leaders, and professionals from around the world, creating a space for discussions on integrating AI into various economic sectors. Volunteers, including representatives from the Roździeński Institute, were also present, and I am writing this article on their behalf. In light of this experience and the planned 2025 edition, we aim to share insights from this year’s conference, enabling readers to benefit from the event’s value — both in terms of networking and expanding business perspectives. As part of this effort, we reached out to two speakers, allowing us to highlight one of the panels led by these experts.
The AIBA conference aims to bring together corporate and startup environments, as well as global and local organizations, to exchange experiences and best practices in implementing modern technologies. Participants were able to choose from a variety of activities tailored to their interests and needs. The program was divided into three main categories: “Business,” “Technical Case,” and “Workshops,” as well as sessions combining business and technical aspects under the label “Business\Technical Case.”
The “Business” section focused on the strategic aspects of using AI in companies, while “Technical Case” offered practical examples of technological implementations. For those seeking more interactive learning experiences, workshops were organized to delve into specific topics in practice. Thanks to the collaboration with the Roździeński Institute, I had the unique opportunity to participate in the event as a volunteer and gather all the information described here.
One of the well-attended panels was “AI for Social Inclusion: Enhancing Accessibility in the Workplace in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” led by Julie Jover and Raashi Saxena from Studio IntO. We connected with them to provide readers with an overview of their presentation. Julie Jover, a Research Strategist and AI Officer at intO (Spain), is an expert in researching AI applications in business. Her work focuses on AI integration strategies.
The second speaker, Raashi Saxena, is a Public Interest Technologist and Researcher at intO from India. She brings deep insight into the societal impacts of technology to her analyses. Her work explores the role of technology in serving the public good.
During their panel, the speakers opened the discussion with the question: “How can businesses integrate AI in an ethical, inclusive, and responsible way to ensure equitable access for all?”
When asked why they chose this topic, Julia explained:
“This topic was chosen because accessibility and AI are deeply intertwined, presenting a unique opportunity to enhance lives while creating a global competitive advantage for businesses.
AI can boost overall output, increase productivity, and help businesses upscale. However, this must be done with a people-first company culture that fosters expertise and creativity, addresses ethical standards and guardrails and considers AI integration across diverse regions and for people with different capabilities, including minorities and those with varying technical and digital literacy.”
Building on this, we asked about the content of their presentation. Julia and Raashi jointly responded:
“ Our speech centred on introducing our Equitable AI Framework, sharing how accessibility plays a pivotal role in AI’s design, deployment, and impact. We started defining Accessibility in AI, and introduced the Five Pillars of Accessibility in AI—socioeconomic, knowledge, geographical and cultural, digital interaction, and disability accessibility. Moving away from a Western-centric and neurotypical view of AI, we emphasised the importance of considering languages, lifestyles, and work styles across the globe, ensuring inclusivity for all, including those with disabilities or limited internet access.
We shared practical steps for businesses to implement accessible AI practices, including:
- Adopting inclusive design workflows, fostering trust and satisfaction.
- Upskilling talent to ensure a people-first approach.
- Promoting AI and accessibility leaders in businesses that advocate for inclusive tools and practices
- Adhering to international organisations’ standards and thought leaders’ guardrails.
- Being part of the development of inclusive AI. The more we use and train AI responsibly, the more inclusive it becomes.”
Finally, we asked Julia for her reflections after the conference. She concluded:
“Participating in AIBA was a humbling and enriching experience. The dynamic mix of perspectives from business and technology highlighted the shared challenges and opportunities in advancing AI accessibility. We learned from great minds about how collaboration can unite people with diverse profiles to build inclusive, impactful solutions, and we perceived an appetite for creating impactful futures with such a promising tool.”
We extend our sincere gratitude to Julie and Raashi for their time and inspiring conversations. As the Roździeński Institute, we were proud to participate in this event and contribute to this space of shared experiences. We hope this article helps readers recognize the potential of the AIBA conference and artificial intelligence — not only for the development of their own businesses but also for fostering a more innovative and competitive global economy. We invite you to join the next edition in 2025 and encourage you to follow future articles on Aktywne Śląskie.
