HUMAIN: Navigating AI for Resilient and Sustainable Cultural and Creative Ecosystems

Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic vision; it has become a daily reality — including within the creative and cultural sectors. Although these technologies offer immense opportunities, their development, implementation, and use raise critical questions regarding ethics, authenticity, copyright, and inclusivity.

The algorithms driving AI-based tools affect the entire sector, ranging from individual creators and professionals in cultural organizations to policymakers shaping cultural policy.

The aim of the HUMAIN project (Navigating Human-Centred AI for Resilient and Sustainable Cultural and Creative Ecosystems) is to strengthen the resilience of the cultural and creative sectors by providing knowledge and tools for the responsible and sustainable implementation of AI. The initiative will focus not only on technology but primarily on people and how the ”AI revolution” affects them:

• Protection of intellectual property and creativity: Based on case studies from the music, film, and fashion industries, we will explore solutions that ensure AI supports human creativity rather than exploits it.
• Ethics and diversity: We aim to prevent algorithms from perpetuating biases and stereotypes, working towards preserving cultural diversity and expanding accessibility for individuals from various social groups.
• Practical support: A key component of the project is the development of the HUMAIN Toolkit – a guide featuring recommendations, explanations of legal frameworks, and proposals for solutions that will help integrate AI applications safely, ethically, and in a manner that supports specific aspects of work.

The three-year HUMAIN project is carried out by a multidisciplinary consortium consisting of nine partners from six European Union countries:

• Jagiellonian University (Poland; project coordinator),
• European Fashion Heritage Association (Italy),
• National Technical University of Athens (Greece),
• Universidad de Valladolid (Spain),
• Stichting VU (Netherlands),
• DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum (Germany),
• Association of Polish Chamber Musicians (Poland),
• Maggioli SPA (Italy),
• and us, the Centrum Cyfrowe Foundation (Poland).

At Centrum Cyfrowe, we believe that technology should serve the public interest; within the HUMAIN project, we are responsible for developing policy recommendations. We want the voice of the cultural sector to be heard at the legislative level in Europe, ensuring that regulations protect our shared heritage and the right to knowledge.

The project is funded by Horizon Europe – the European Union’s flagship program aimed at strengthening the EU’s competitiveness through breakthrough innovations and scientific cooperation.