Regulating AI: Debating Approaches and Perspectives from Asia and Europe
Webinar series Cooperation Project between the hbs and APRU
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a stage of maturity and extensive application across supply chains and manufacturing, in automation, public governance, media and entertainment. While industries and societies are quick in the uptake of AI to harness benefits and opportunities, many governments are catching up to develop responsible and appropriate regulatory frameworks, to prevent immense possible harm of mismanaged AI.
During this active shaping process, the European Commission has unveiled its draft AI Act (AIA) in April 2021; ongoing discussion and a law-making process that seeks to establish key agenda and practices in the field of AI regulation continues in the EU Parliament in 2022. Simultaneously in the past 2-3 years, a number of Asian countries are actively rolling out policy papers, laws, and guidelines stages concerning AI regulation, embracing different emphases and approaches.
The Hong Kong office of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (hbs) and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) are inviting to a series of three webinars that wants to bring together experts and interested audiences from the Asia-Pacific region and Europe to discuss current ideas and approaches around the regulation of AI.
- What kind of regulatroy regime can put effective checks on misuse or socially dangerous developments without harming technological progress in the field?
- How can accountability of AI-supported decision-making be secured if the details of the process cannot be fully and transparently explained?
- How is it possible, in an environment of large-scale data usage, to safeguard privacy and data protection?
The event seeks to share about best practices, developments, governance frameworks, in order to deepen insights how to address AI-related governance and policy challenges globally.
The Organisers
The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), with experts from its member universities and external partners in the region, has been pursuing debates in the field of AI policies and ethics since 2016. Specifically, APRU in collaboration with UN ESCAP and Google set up the AI for Social Good network supporting governments and key stakeholders in developing insights how best to develop governance approaches that will address challenges associated with AI, while maximizing the technology’s potential in the Asia Pacific region. The latest activity is working with specific government agencies in South East to identify specific regulatory, governance or capability needs they may be facing and develop high-impact insights towards the development of suitable country specific governance frameworks and national capabilities.
The Heinrich Böll Stiftung (hbs), from Germany with a global network of more than 30 offices, is involved in the discussion regulatory and governance issues of digitalization especially through its Brussels, Washington and Hong Kong offices and its head office in Berlin. hbs is networked to relevant actors especially in Europe, including civil society and members of parliament, policy-makers and other experts involved in the EU’s AI Law initiative.
Webinar 1: Risk-based Approach of AI Regulation
Date: 5 May 2022 (Thu)
Time: 0830-0930 CET GMT+2 / 1430-1530 Hong Kong GMT+8 / 1530-1630 Japan GMT+9 / 1630-1730 Sydney GMT+10
AI applications can be categorized by the levels of risk they may imply, with appropriate regulatory restrictions and exemptions specified in the regulatory framework. Which type of AI would constitute an “unacceptable risks” that may be strictly prohibited? How can these areas be defined clearly? What kind of applications should be exempted? The European Union’s proposed AI Act (Apr 2021) and ongoing discussion in 2022 has taken a significant step along this approach; initiatives in Asia-Pacific will also be discussed.
Speakers:
- Prof Toby Walsh (Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of New South Wales, Australia)
- Ms Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament)
- Prof Jiro Kokuryo (Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, Japan)
Moderator:
- Ms Zora Siebert (Head of EU Democracy & Digital Policy Programme, Heinrich Böll Stiftung European Union)
Webinar recording: Risk-based Approach of AI Regulation - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Asia Global Dialogue
Watch on YouTube