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6 AI governance principles to help enterprises cope with risk in the fast-moving world

Due to the rapid democratisation of artificial intelligence (AI) and an unprecedented pace of adoption, enterprises may not be able to tackle the unfamiliar risks that arise and the subsequent compliance and regulatory pressures that follow. Traditional approaches to IT governance are falling short in the AI context, which has not kept up with the pace of innovations.

AI implementations are often highly decentralised and bespoke across the enterprise, making it difficult to install risk management mechanisms. AI is often in-built into third-party software, hardware, and services that are deployed to specific business units, potentially exposed to undiscovered risks in legal, reputational, data privacy, and operational areas.

An AI governance framework should rest on the following principles, which need to be incorporated throughout the lifecycle and not just during model validation.

A proper ethical AI framework is not just about adhering to legal and regulatory aspects but comprises fundamental values deeply grounded in individual rights, fairness, and privacy. Ethical AI guidelines and their enforcement help screen out unfair and illegitimate uses of AI. Enterprises should have clearly stated policies that are easily accessible at all levels in the organisation and structured review processes to ensure compliance. Frequent and targeted audits and appropriate internal feedback and contesting mechanisms can flag ethical concerns ahead of time. Here also, adversarial testing can expose those “edge cases” where the model behaves inappropriately, and stress tests the system and allied processes that are downstream.

The article orginally was published on Forbes India.

The Boston Global Forum (BGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Centennial Initiative, released a major work entitled Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.   More than twenty distinguished leaders, scholars, analysts, and thinkers put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges before us. These include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland.  The BGF introduced core concepts shaping pathbreaking international initiatives, notably, the Social Contract for the AI Age, an AI International Accord, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, the AI World Society (AIWS) Ecosystem, AIWS City, and Global Enlightenment Mountain (GEM).

Global Enlightenment Mountain (GEM) – The New Silicon Valley for Global Enlightenment

The Global Enlightenment Mountain (GEM) program is a model of the new Silicon Valley, designed to make significant achievements in building the Age of Global Enlightenment. As AI technology continues to advance and develop, GEM is an initiative in creating a more transparent, accountable, and ethical global tech ecosystem.

One of the key initiatives of GEM is the creation of AI Assistants, including T-Lead, Enligh-T, T-Kindness, and Biotic AI. These intelligent assistants are designed to augment human abilities, improve our quality of life, and ensure their ethical and responsible usage, setting an example of ethics and responsibility for the technology industry.

  1. T-Kindness: An AI assistant with empathy T-Kindness is an AI assistant that is more than just an effective tool. It is a sincere and honest friend that understands your interests, psychology, habits, and personality. This assistant supports you in everything from work to love and health care, always there for you every time and everywhere. T-Kindness helps you build good character, right behavior, and nobility in times of failure or difficulties, as well as success, victory, and glory.
  2. Enligh-T: AI assistant preserving the thoughts of outstanding leaders Enligh-T is an AI assistant that simulates the thought processes and decision-making of outstanding leaders, preserving their great minds for future generations. By absorbing and learning from these leaders, Enligh-T helps to ensure their legacies last for eternity.
  3. T-Lead: AI assistant for decision makers T-Lead is an AI assistant that helps political leaders make informed decisions that are good for the people and society. By understanding the psychology and emotions of the leader, T-Lead provides empathetic support and acts as a trustworthy friend. T-Lead also learns from the leader’s good qualities and preserves them for the next generation.

These AI Assistants are just the beginning of the GEM program, which is focused on developing a range of innovative technologies that promote global enlightenment. GEM is committed to ensuring that these technologies are used in a manner that is consistent with human rights and values, and that they benefit society as a whole.

The GEM program is a unique opportunity to shape the future of AI technology and to create a more ethical and democratic global tech ecosystem. By working together, we can harness the power of AI to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems and to create a more enlightened and prosperous future for all in the Age of Global Enlightenment.

GEM is the first step in building a new Silicon Valley, one that prioritizes ethics, innovation, and well-being for all. As we embark on this journey, we invite everyone to join us in creating a brighter, more prosperous, and more ethical future for all.

 

Commonwealth and Intel launch AI learning platform for public sector leaders

The Commonwealth Secretariat and Intel have jointly launched a digital learning platform to enable public sector officials in 56 countries to understand and harness emerging technologies to achieve development goals.

This online digital training course aims to demystify artificial intelligence (AI) among senior officials across the Commonwealth and raise awareness of its potential applications in various sectors, in view of the current needs and digital readiness of respective countries.

Recognising the ever-increasing speed and scale of digitalisation in everyday life, business and government, the ‘Digital Readiness for Public Sector Leaders’ programme seeks to support countries in unlocking its benefits and closing the global AI divide.

The self-paced course contains use-case examples, international best practices and frameworks that will also allow learners develop strategies, scalable solutions and action plans for digital transformation in their communities. It covers topics such as digital governance, technology, infrastructure and inclusivity.

The original article was published at Commonwealth.

The Boston Global Forum (BGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Centennial Initiative, released a major work entitled Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.   More than twenty distinguished leaders, scholars, analysts, and thinkers put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges before us. These include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland.  The BGF introduced core concepts shaping pathbreaking international initiatives, notably, the Social Contract for the AI Age, an AI International Accord, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, the AI World Society (AIWS) Ecosystem, and AIWS City.

The Shinzo Abe Initiative 2nd Conference: Japan’s Prominence in the New Age of Global Enlightenment

The PDF of this publication can downloaded here.

Tokyo, April 5th, 2023

Contributors: Nazli Choucri, Michael Dukakis, Tuan Anh Nguyen, Quynh Nham, Thomas Patterson, Alex Pentland, Shyamal Sharma, David Silbersweig

 

The Boston Global Forum Shinzo Abe Initiative

In 2015, the Boston Global Forum (BGF) honored Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with the “World Leader for Peace and Security Award.”  This award was given in recognition of Prime Minister Abe’s contributions to promoting peace, security, and economic development in Japan and around the world.  Prime Minister Abe’s leadership and vision helped to bolster the Japanese economy, strengthen international partnerships, and promote a more secure and peaceful world for all.

Prime Minister Abe was a distinguished contributor to the book Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment, which was published in 2021 by the Boston Global Forum and the United Nations Academic Impact.  The book presents a vision of the future based on the deep integration of applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all aspects of politics, economy, education, and society.

On July 10, 2022, the Boston Global Forum founded the Shinzo Abe Initiative for Peace and Security to recognize his legacy and continue his work on global peace and security through engaging world leaders, scholars, thinkers, and innovators on these topics with special attention to promoting Japan’s economic growth and innovation.

In January 2023, the BGF announced former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama as the coordinator of the Shinzo Abe Initiative and a distinguished contributor to the BGF.

The Age of Global Enlightenment

The book Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment (2021) presents a vision of the future based on the deep integration of applied AI in aspects of politics, economy, education, and society.  This vision is supported by a 7-layer model of the AI World Society (AIWS), which is at the core of the Age of Global Enlightenment.  The book outlines how the 7-layer model of the AI World Society can be used to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity.  The model is designed to guide policymakers, business leaders, and individuals in harnessing the power of emerging innovations in digital technology as well as artificial intelligence (AI) to address the complex challenges facing the world today.  It provides a roadmap for policymakers, political leaders, entrepreneurs, and world citizens to work together to establish a new Social Contract for the AI Age that is guided by the principles of broad-based collaboration, innovation, economic justice and equity, and ethical leadership.

Leadership Community in the AI World Society and the Age of Global Enlightenment 

In the new AI World Society, maintaining peace, guaranteeing reciprocal security, and promoting shared prosperity are crucial.  The effort calls for concerted, collaborative action by world leaders.

Toward this goal, the Boston Global Forum (BGF) has assembled a Leadership Community for Global Enlightenment.  This Leadership Community is composed of distinguished policymakers, political leaders, strategists, scholars, thought leaders, business leaders, innovators, artists, and other public intellectuals who are committed to crafting a new Social Contract for the AI Age.  Notable participants in this Community include former Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts, President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, President Sauli Niinisto of Finland, UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Technology Amandeep Gill, Speaker Andreas Norlen of Sweden, and “the father of the Internet” Vint Cerf among scholars from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and other leading institutions.   The BGF convenes members of this Leadership Community in High-Level Dialogues and similar discussions for imagining solutions and actions to address the world’s most pressing issues.

Japan’s New Era of Reiwa and the Age of Global Enlightenment

The promise of a new era for Japan emerged in Spring 2019 when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s eventual successor Suga Yoshihide gave the promise its name, Reiwa.  The first character rei, means “auspicious” or “orderly;” wa means “harmony” or “peace.”  Japan’s officials chose “beautiful harmony” as the English rendering for Reiwa.  The name came from Japan’s Manyoshu poetry anthology compiled over a millennium ago: “In this auspicious (rei) month of early spring, the weather is fine and the wind gentle (wa).”

The early months of Reiwa were neither auspicious nor gentle with the COVID-19 pandemic taking hold, China suppressing human rights in Hong Kong, and Shinzo Abe stepping down due to illness.  Japan has demonstrated resilience in the face of past challenges.  In the Showa era from 1926 to 1989, Japan recovered from the Second World War and grew into the world’s second-largest economy. It led Ezra Vogel, a Harvard historian, to write about “Japan as Number One” and to urge America to learn lessons from its former foe.  Mr. Abe had this in mind when he declared that “Japan is back.”

Reiwa’s dawn has already provoked soul-searching in Japan.  The question for the Reiwa era is what kind of Japan the Japanese seek.  Yoshimi Shunya of the University of Tokyo has argued that Japan is in a “post-growth or post-development era” and its values must evolve from the “faster, higher, stronger” of Showa to “diversity, resilience and sustainability.”  Others hope to reprise past glories, as in “We must make Japan Number One again.”

Showa Japan once offered lessons on how to win the future.  Reiwa Japan will offer lessons on how to survive and prosper.  A place to start is on Japan’s front line with China.

Diplomats speak of Asia in terms of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” a coinage of Mr Abe’s.  Trade negotiators speak of “Data Free Flow with Trust,” another Japanese idea.  Central bankers ponder “quantitative easing,” also pioneered in Japan.  Years before Joe Biden promised America would “Build Back Better,” Japan pushed to insert the phrase into the UN framework for disaster-risk reduction.

In Spring 2021, President Biden welcomed then Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide for the first foreign leader visit of his presidency.  After a tenuous period under the Trump Administration, the United States and Japan renewed an alliance that has become a cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.  Japan is central to this century’s geopolitics and a peaceful, democratic world order – spreading Reiwa, Beautiful Harmony, in a world beset by destabilization, displacement, and violent suppression imposed on millions of world citizens by authoritarian regimes.

 

Welcoming Japan as an Essential Pillar of World Democratic Alliance

It is a great honor for the Boston Global Forum to welcome Japan as its distinguished collaborator from the Asia-Pacific region for co-creating the Global Digital Governance Framework towards peace and security in the new Age of Global Enlightenment ushered in by emerging digital technologies and generative artificial intelligence.

The Leadership Community of the Boston Global Forum looks forward to Japan playing a pivotal role in leading and promoting the comprehensive social integration among the United States, Japan, India, the Europe Union, Australia and other like-minded democratic countries, for shared prosperity and a peaceful world order in this new Age of Global Enlightenment.  With its historic excellence in technological innovations and its culture of humility, Japan could pave the way for establishing a robust ecosystem for innovation and technology-driven economy in Asia-Pacific and across the globe.  The success of this collaboration will require both Japan and the United States to work together, alongside the European Union and India, considered as the Four Pillars of a free and fair global society in the new Age of Global Enlightenment, and leverage their respective strengths to create new synergies, as well as an effective global framework for digital governance to prevent harm and optimize the common good.

 

Japan as the Benevolent Economic Giant in the Age of Enlightenment  

The Boston Global Forum proposes the following for ongoing dialogue and collaboration:

As a nation with a strong tradition of innovation and technological advancement, Japan has strong potential to play a prominent role in shaping the development and implementation of AI and other emerging technologies in what could be the Global Enlightenment Economy.  Japanese companies and institutions have already made significant contributions to the field of AI, and Japan’s leadership in this area can help to drive innovation and promote ethical standards in the use of AI and other technologies.  Japan’s leadership role in promoting a shared framework for responsible and ethical standards developed through proactive collaboration with the Boston Global Forum and leaders in the Global Enlightenment Community could be pivotal in advancing democracy, peace, and prosperity in the global economy in the Age of Global Enlightenment.

Furthermore, Japan’s commitment to international cooperation and collaboration, as well as its focus on promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, makes it a natural partner and indeed the benevolent economic giant in the Global Enlightenment Community.

Potential Strategies that Japan could adopt for strengthening its economy in the Age of Global Enlightenment:

Foster Innovation and Openness: Japan has a strong tradition of technological innovation.  To remain competitive in current times, Japan could encourage greater openness to new ideas and technologies and promote an environment that fosters innovation.  This could involve providing more funding for research and development, creating incentives for entrepreneurs and startups, and investing substantially in the development of emerging technologies like AI and robotics.

Focus on Digitalization: Japan could embrace the digital revolution and invest in the redesign of its digital infrastructure.  This could involve building a robust and reliable broadband network, investing in 5G technology, and developing new platforms and services that leverage the power of AI and other digital technologies.

Embrace Data Economy: Data is the most vital input of the AI and digital economy, as well as all other highly interdependent sectors of modern life of individual citizens and nations including defense, commerce, and public health.  Japan could focus on harnessing the power of data to drive economic growth.  This could involve investing in systematic data capture in each sector, data analytics and machine learning technologies, promoting data sharing and collaboration across industries for program planning and implementation, and developing policies and regulations that protect privacy, encourage responsible use of data and improve quality of life for all citizens.

Build a Strong Ecosystem: Japan could work to build a strong ecosystem that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.  This could involve creating incubators and accelerators to support startups, developing a network of investors and venture capitalists, and fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry.

Partner with Other Countries: Finally, Japan should seek to partner with other like-minded countries that are leaders in the digital economy, such as the United States, India, and those in the European Union.  By working together, these countries can share knowledge, resources, and best practices, and create a unified front to compete with China in the global digital economy.

Kindness Culture of Japanese is Japan’s soft power: Japan should promote its culture of kindness, civility, and politeness not only through tourism, but also through immersive cultural exchange programs and education attuned to the Global Enlightenment Economy and Enlightenment.  By sharing its unique culture and values with the world as the soft power of Japan, Japan can become a pillar in building a cultural lifestyle of benevolent humanity in the Age of Global Enlightenment.

One of the barriers to achieving this goal optimally is language.  AI-assisted adaptive translation can help to remove the language barrier between Japan and other countries.  Such integration can help to facilitate trade, cultural exchange, and collaboration in a variety of fields.

To truly promote the soft power of Japanese culture and values, it is important to also invest in human translators and interpreters who can accurately convey the meaning, intent, and context behind the language.  This can help to ensure that cultural nuances and context are properly understood and respected.

 

Specific Solutions and Actions for Japan’s Increasing Prominence in the New Age of Enlightenment 

  • Japan partners with the United States, India, and Europe in a Shared Innovation Ecosystems Program, which focuses primarily on building essentially a transcontinental, transpacific common market of US, Japan, Europe, and India to compete with China in the technology-driven economy.
  • Japan partners with the United States and India to establish a robust ecosystem for innovation and technology-driven economy, with AI as the pivotal component.
  • Japan takes an active role in this strategy and coordinates with the US and India, to invest in pioneering digital products and services and attract young talents from Vietnam and South-East Asia to further enhance this Initiative.
  • Japan becomes a major manufacturer of high quality, leading products for the common market of US, Japan, India, Europe.
  • Japan uses the Global Enlightenment Community and the Boston Global Forum’s Global Alliance for Digital Governance to establish Japan’s economic development cooperation role.
  • Japan leverages the resources and geopolitical networks of the Global Enlightenment Community to establish itself as a prominent economic power, particularly in the areas of innovation and technology, committed to benevolent cooperation and global harmony.

A. Collaborating to Build the Global Enlightenment Mountain

The Global Enlightenment Mountain is a new “Silicon Valley” model.

The Global Enlightenment Mountain Program, developed by the Boston Global Forum, is a revolutionary initiative aimed at creating a virtual Silicon Valley model for the AI and Digital era.  This program aims to connect research centers, labs of leading universities, pioneering technology innovation companies from various countries including the US, Japan, India, Europe, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Israel.  By leveraging the collective knowledge and resources of these diverse regions, the program seeks to foster innovation and collaboration in the technology industry.

One of the key goals of the Global Enlightenment Mountain Program is to connect financial investment resources and talented human resources to participate in development and market.  By pooling together resources from various sources, the program hopes to accelerate the pace of innovation and facilitate the creation of new products and technologies.

In addition, the program places a strong emphasis on understanding the needs of the market and society.  By working closely with end-users and stakeholders, the program aims to identify areas where new technologies can create the greatest impact and support the development of products that meet these needs.  Furthermore, the program provides support to create brands, go to market, and develop user communities, helping to ensure that new products and technologies are able to achieve widespread adoption and success.

Overall, the Global Enlightenment Mountain Program represents an exciting and innovative approach to fostering collaboration and innovation in the technology industry.  Through its unique virtual model and focus on connecting resources and understanding market needs, the program is well positioned to drive meaningful change and shape the future of the digital era.

The Global Enlightenment Mountain Program includes the following components:

Global Enlightenment Mountain Labs and Centers: This component involves connecting research centers and labs of leading universities, as well as pioneering technology innovation companies from various countries, to foster collaboration and innovation in the technology industry.

Global Enlightenment Mountain Market: This component emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs of the market and society, and working closely with end-users and stakeholders to identify areas where new technologies can create the greatest impact.  The program seeks to develop products that meet these needs, and provide support to create brands, go to market, and develop user communities to ensure widespread adoption and success.

Global Enlightenment Mountain Finance: This component aims to connect financial investment resources and talented human resources to participate in development and market, and pool together resources from various sources to accelerate the pace of innovation.

Global Enlightenment Mountain Policy: This involves developing policies and regulations to support innovation and collaboration in the technology industry.

It is envisioned that being an active pioneer in building Global Enlightenment Mountain will make Japan’s economy stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient.

Some pioneering programs will include the AI Sentiment Assistants Program. The Boston Global Forum assembles and links groundbreaking concepts for constructing the AI World Society, and Japan takes the lead in pioneering AI, data, and cognitive, emotion-combining AI products and services (Sentiment AI) as AI Assistants to establish the Age of Global Enlightenment.

B. Promoting the Ideal of “Collaborative, Not Competitive Economics, with Kindness, Civilization, and Ethics Together” in the New Age of Global Enlightenment

In today’s world, the integration of economic development and business with kindness, humane values such as honesty and ethical standards is a pressing issue.  The focus should not only be on profits for businesses, but also on upholding moral principles and avoiding compromises with authoritarian governments that may cause harm to humanity.  Russia’s government is a clear example of this.  On the other hand, Japan is a country that upholds noble, civilized, and polite ethical values in both personal and business matters.  This makes Japan an important force in creating a business community within the Global Enlightenment Community, which aims to establish a voice and demand that member governments establish ecosystems for economic, creative, and ethical excellence.  This is the primary objective of the Global Enlightenment Economy.

Together with the United States, Japan is a critical player in establishing the economy and society of the Age of Global Enlightenment, characterized by innovation, dynamism, creativity, and genuine democracy.  The political landscape is effective, kind, and honest, and society values traits such as kindness, nobility, and good character, which are quantifiable and rewarding for those who contribute to society through intelligence and creativity.  Currently, only business people benefit from a good material life, which needs to change.  It is imperative to establish a mechanism that recognizes the significance of dedicating oneself to building a better society as good business.  This will provide individuals who contribute to society a stronger voice, greater influence, more power, and a better material life.

C. Collaboration between Japan and New England Area in the US

This will be achieved as Japan engages, collaborates with the Boston Global Forum and the New England area in the United States, and plays a key role in building Global Enlightenment Community and the Global Enlightenment Mountain.

One of the key areas of collaboration between Japan and the Boston and New England area is in the field of AI, Digital, and Biotech, Health Care.  As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and reliant on technology, it is crucial that ethical standards are upheld in the development and implementation of these new tools.  Japan, with its strong emphasis on ethics and responsibility, is well-suited to contribute to this effort.

Japan actively engages and collaborates with the Boston and New England area to build the Global Enlightenment Community.

Japan and the Boston and New England area are actively collaborating to build the Global Enlightenment Community, an initiative aimed at creating a better world in the Age of AI and Digital.  As a central member of the Community, Japan is dedicated to sharing its noble and elite values with the world.

The Global Enlightenment Community is an international effort to foster collaboration, innovation, and creativity in pursuit of a better world.  With a focus on ethical standards, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility, the Community seeks to address global challenges and create a more just and equitable society towards a better future for all citizens.

D. Attract young talent and expand markets to Vietnam and Southeast Asia:

Collaboration between Japan, the United States, India, Vietnam, and other countries in Southeast Asia can certainly help to create a strong innovation and technology-economy ecosystem with AI as a key component.  By combining the strengths of these countries, it may be possible to develop new technologies and solutions that can address some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Collaboration between universities in the United States and Japan, for example, can help to foster greater technological innovation including in digital technology.  Similarly, partnering with India can bring untapped human resources for advancing technological innovation, while Vietnam can contribute young and enthusiastic human resources with a desire to learn and grow.

By working together, these countries can create a strong ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism, entertainment, relaxation, creativity, digital economy, and AI.  This can involve creating incubators and accelerators to support startups, developing a network of investors and venture capitalists, and fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry.

At the same time, it is important to ensure that the benefits of this collaboration are shared equitably across all participating countries.  This can involve promoting transparency, fairness, and ethical practices in technology development and business operations, and ensuring that all stakeholders have a voice in shaping the direction of this innovation and technology-economy ecosystem that puts genuinely democratic governance and protection of fundamental human rights at its very core.

Japan aims to create an open society that attracts global talents, with a strong emphasis on Japanese lifestyle ethics and social standards for young talents entering the country.  Additionally, Japan is actively involved in transmitting knowledge, culture, ethics, and civil society standards of Japan to developing countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, particularly through the promotion and development of the Global Enlightenment Education Program.

 

Role of BGF, Michael Dukakis Institute (MDI) and AIWS in Japan’s Increasing Prominence

The BGF, MDI, and AIWS play a pivotal role in linking Japanese and US universities and innovative communities, harnessing Japan’s strengths in conjunction with those of the US to generate a potent synergy to tackle the challenges of global peace and security in the 21st century in the Age of AI.

The BGF, MDI, and AIWS can help to connect Japan and the United States, particularly in the areas of education and innovation.  Fostering such collaboration between universities and creative communities can help to bring together the strengths of both countries and create new synergies that can address some of the world’s biggest challenges.

In particular, the collaboration between Japan and the United States can be particularly important in the Age of AI, where technology is playing an increasingly important role in shaping the world.  By working together, these countries can develop new technologies and solutions that can help to promote world peace and security in the 21st century.

To support this collaboration, Japan can leverage the Global Enlightenment Community and GADG to establish a role of cooperation in Japan’s economic development.  This can involve creating new partnerships and initiatives that promote collaboration between Japanese and American universities, companies, and research organizations, as well as fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Japan.

Ultimately, the success of this collaboration will depend on the willingness of both Japan and the United States to work together and leverage their respective strengths to create new synergies.  By promoting greater collaboration and cooperation, these countries can create a better future for all of humanity in the Age of AI.

 

Steps Toward a Shared Framework for AI-Digital Governance

Since its founding, the Boston Global Forum has spearheaded transatlantic collaborations between the United States and its allies across Europe.  These collaborations are characterized by close cooperation and continuous work for common interests and shared values.  This cooperation has been essential to building a multilateral network, considering the shared values and principles of democracy, rule of law, and fairness.

In the Social Contract for the AI Age, Boston Global Forum considered AI Assistants as a center of power in the AI World Society ushered in by the New Age of Global Enlightenment.  Recent innovations in AI applications such as ChatGPT and its equivalents, derived from Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLM), have exacerbated logical concerns about appropriate use of AI for the common good in a highly interconnected global society, as well as about potential threats to life, liberty, and governance in democratic countries around the world.  Intentional misuse of AI and similar advanced digital technology by authoritarian governments pose a unique threat to its own citizens and to democracies worldwide.

Given these threats, it is important for liberal democracies and other institutions in the international community to work together to ensure that the development and use of AI assistants and ChatGPT are guided by ethical principles and a strong regulatory framework.  This should include measures to prevent the use of AI for human rights abuses and to hold accountable those who violate these principles.  Additionally, international cooperation can help prevent the spread of AI technology to authoritarian regimes that would use it to undermine the rights and freedoms of their citizens, as well as try to disrupt the functioning of democracies around the world.

True to its commitment, the Boston Global Forum is enhancing its efforts in leveraging the brain trust from its existing partners in the transatlantic region and building stronger collaborations with like-minded leaders in the Asia-Pacific region for crafting and disseminating a strategic framework for global governance of AI that is a) guided by fundamental democratic values, and b) informed by existing deep knowledge that constitute the core of the Boston Global Forum and the Global Alliance for Digital Governance.

Key Elements of the Framework (detailed descriptions for each key element will be developed, moving forward, in close consultation with subject matter experts, and in resonance with collaborating partners in the transatlantic and the Asia-Pacific regions)

  • Transparency and accountability in AI algorithms and decision-making
  • Data privacy and protection
  • Ethics of AI development and deployment
  • Bias detection and mitigation of harm occurring from biased algorithms
  • Responsible AI deployment practices and guidelines
  • Community control (as in self-agency) and independent oversight of regulation framework/s
  • Protection and any necessary adjudication of intellectual property rights of developers of AI and digital technology, as well as open access to the design of applicable technology or technologies
  • Incorporate checks and balances for prevention of AI abuse and digital terrorism by rogue actors
  • Proactive vigilance and prevention of misuse and abuse of AI by authoritarian governments to suppress dissent and control their citizens in violation of basic human rights, exploit the vulnerability of neighboring countries for geopolitical dominance, and subvert liberal democracies around the globe international cooperation toward stemming abuses of AI by authoritarian governments
  • Clear definitions of parameters of liability and jurisdiction in international and global agreements as they apply to ChatGPT and AI assistants
  • Accessibility, i.e., equitable access to AI and assistive digital technology for people with disabilities
  • Transparent criteria for standardization, interoperability, accountability and cybersecurity, in accordance with data privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the Social Contract for the AI Age as well as any other industry-specific regulations
  • Liability and jurisdiction
  • Other criteria, as appropriate and agreed upon by the Global Enlightenment Community

The Race for AI Governance: Navigating the International Regulatory Landscape of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a main competitive advantage for the 21st century is rapidly gaining momentum on the world stage. Its accelerating capabilities and potential are so significant that it will transform nearly all aspects of our societies, including the economy, education, healthcare, the law, national security, and beyond. It is becoming the driver for growth, competitiveness, and innovation. Non-adoption can be a critical risk for businesses and governments. Organizations that fail to adapt to the fast-paced AI-changing environment could quickly find their business model become obsolete.

The new AI generation is expeditiously and materially advancing into territories that were thought to be reserved for humans. AI is moving way beyond organizing and providing information into the realms of generating knowledge and somewhat exhibiting creativity.

Driven by the potentials, benefits, opportunities, and risks a global race for AI leadership has already begun to be at the forefront of AI development and application. The United States was the first country to implement a comprehensive AI research and development strategic plan in May 2016. In February 2019, the US President signed Executive Order 13859 Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence. In July 2017, China released its Next Generation AI Development Plan to become the world leader in the field by 2030. In April 2018, the European Union set the approach for the European AI Strategy aims at making the EU a world-class hub for AI and ensuring that AI is human-centric and trustworthy.

The AI race is not exclusive to AI development and application but also extends to AI governance. The importance of AI regulations comes from the significant role they will play in shaping AI’s future and will determine who will emerge as the true leaders in this field. Today frontrunners in AI regulations and governance endeavors are the United States, China, and the EU. The European Union is taking a proactive approach by introducing strict rules aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy and ensuring the ethical use of AI. China is also taking a proactive and leading approach; its 2022 regulation on recommendation algorithms aims to gain meaningful insight into the functioning of algorithms and ensures they perform within the regulators’ acceptable bounds. The United States is taking a more laissez-faire approach, seeking to create a more favorable environment for AI innovation.

The original article was published at Jurist.

The Boston Global Forum (BGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Centennial Initiative, released a major work entitled Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.   More than twenty distinguished leaders, scholars, analysts, and thinkers put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges before us. These include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland.  The BGF introduced core concepts shaping pathbreaking international initiatives, notably, the Social Contract for the AI Age, an AI International Accord, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, the AI World Society (AIWS) Ecosystem, and AIWS City.

How AI Strengthens Data Governance and Increases Your Data’s Value

Businesses increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to make better products, drive operational efficiency, optimize customer sales and service, and improve how they go to market. The value of AI and ML technologies is only as high as governance standards that are in place. And those standards require the application of policies and frameworks.

Complicating the relationship between AI and data governance is the fact that AI itself is also being used to help manage an organization’s data and governance processes. This is a tricky balance. Ultimately, machines are there for automation and speed. Human practices, review, and verification steps as they relate to data gathering and management must be in place.

In practical terms, data governance is where risk management meets ethical standards. The policies and practices manage how your people, software, and machines use and apply data — and now they must factor in AI and ML. You don’t want to be that executive splashed all over the headlines when your AI’s use of unreliable data, without proper controls, causes damage to your brand, your business, or worst of all, your customer relationships.

Security and data privacy are also major components of your data governance program. AI can automate analysis and monitoring of data privacy, compliance, and security. For instance, when a data center breach occurs, data managers can train an AI-based tool to identify cyberattacks. AI can then identify patterns typical of cyberattacks and notify security teams and other authorities before data is compromised. This adds another level of security and protection and, unlike human resources, AI technologies can monitor data transmissions, which is a 24/7, 365-days-a-year requirement.

The original article was published at Acceleration Economy.

The Boston Global Forum (BGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Centennial Initiative, released a major work entitled Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.   More than twenty distinguished leaders, scholars, analysts, and thinkers put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges before us. These include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland.  The BGF introduced core concepts shaping pathbreaking international initiatives, notably, the Social Contract for the AI Age, an AI International Accord, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, the AI World Society (AIWS) Ecosystem, and AIWS City.

Lessons From the World’s Two Experiments in AI Governance

Artificial intelligence (AI) is both omnipresent and conceptually slippery, making it notoriously hard to regulate. Fortunately for the rest of the world, two major experiments in the design of AI governance are currently playing out in Europe and China. The European Union (EU) is racing to pass its draft Artificial Intelligence Act, a sweeping piece of legislation intended to govern nearly all uses of AI. Meanwhile, China is rolling out a series of regulations targeting specific types of algorithms and AI capabilities. For the host of countries starting their own AI governance initiatives, learning from the successes and failures of these two initial efforts to govern AI will be crucial.

When policymakers sit down to develop a serious legislative response to AI, the first fundamental question they face is whether to take a more “horizontal” or “vertical” approach. In a horizontal approach, regulators create one comprehensive regulation that covers the many impacts AI can have. In a vertical strategy, policymakers take a bespoke approach, creating different regulations to target different applications or types of AI.

Neither the EU nor China is taking a purely horizontal or vertical approach to governing AI. But the EU’s AI Act leans horizontal and China’s algorithm regulations incline vertically. By digging into these two experiments in AI governance, policymakers can begin to draw out lessons for their own regulatory approaches.

The original article was published at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The Boston Global Forum (BGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Centennial Initiative, released a major work entitled Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.   More than twenty distinguished leaders, scholars, analysts, and thinkers put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges before us. These include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland.  The BGF introduced core concepts shaping pathbreaking international initiatives, notably, the Social Contract for the AI Age, an AI International Accord, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, the AI World Society (AIWS) Ecosystem, and AIWS City.

Adapting Intellectual Property Law For AI Governance

The rapidly evolving and expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is outpacing regulatory and policy efforts to guide its ethical use.

In a Policy Forum, Cason Schmit and colleagues propose a new approach to AI regulation, which involves leveraging two existing legal tools used to manage intellectual property (IP) rights – copyleft licensing and patent trolling. They call their approach CAITE (Copyleft AI with Trusted Enforcement).

The swift development and widespread adoption of AI technology have consistently outpaced regulatory oversight, which has largely resulted in insufficient policy. However, given AI’s potential impact on nearly every aspect of daily life, regulation ensuring its appropriate and ethical use is sorely needed.

As a supplement to the Policy Forum, Schmit asked ChatGPT (an AI chatbot) to provide insights into how ethical AI use should be governed. While the output provided a reasonable summary of important considerations, the AI glossed over the more difficult questions, like how governance should be implemented.

The original article was published at the Eurasian Review.

The Boston Global Forum (BGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Centennial Initiative, released a major work entitled Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.   More than twenty distinguished leaders, scholars, analysts, and thinkers put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges before us. These include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland.  The BGF introduced core concepts shaping pathbreaking international initiatives, notably, the Social Contract for the AI Age, an AI International Accord, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, the AI World Society (AIWS) Ecosystem, and AIWS City.

IAPP Report: AI Governance Success Tied to Existing Privacy Program Maturity, Technical Tools Gap an Early Obstacle

As ChatGPT rockets AI governance to the forefront of discussion, IAPP and FTI Consulting’s annual privacy management report finds that over half of organizations are building their approaches on top of existing and mature privacy programs. But while the commitment is often there, the tools and skills may not be as the workforce only just begins to develop.

The main wall that organizations appear to be running into is a lack of available tools and talent. The AI governance workforce is only beginning to shape up, and has some interplay with already existing shortages for qualified privacy and security professionals of all types. The development of necessary technical tools is also in its early stage, with some organizations finding products that meet their needs are simply not available yet or are difficult to track down.

“Harmful bias” leads the risk categories of AI governance that organizations are focused on, with most reporting it as a “high probability.” One of the leading concerns in this area are models that fail to be representative or incorporate some kind of unconscious bias, leading to results that may be lacking validity or even unethical. Organizations are also concerned about making promises based on expected AI capability that they then fail to deliver. Organizations most frequently believe that risk and privacy management in this area require consistent definitions of harm, established risk indicators for determining bias, clear guidelines on fairness requirements, and common tools and standards for bias detection.

“Bad governance” is almost as common of a risk concern as the potential for bias. In addition to opening up a variety of risks, poor AI governance could bloat administrative and legal budgets. Individuals currently involved with privacy management programs say that they have doubts about how principles such as data minimization and purpose specification will translate to algorithmic AI systems. Respondents are looking for clear AI governance strategies tailored to the risks inherent in processing personal data in AI systems, and would like to see AI assessments and assignment of responsibilities embedded in workforce training programs.

The original article was posted at CPO Magazine.

The Boston Global Forum (BGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Centennial Initiative, released a major work entitled Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.   More than twenty distinguished leaders, scholars, analysts, and thinkers put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges before us. These include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland.  The BGF introduced core concepts shaping pathbreaking international initiatives, notably, the Social Contract for the AI Age, an AI International Accord, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, the AI World Society (AIWS) Ecosystem, and AIWS City.