Understanding AI Policy: An Overview
An introduction to AI policy
Introduction
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our world, influencing everything from healthcare and education to national security and entertainment. As AI technology continues to advance, the issue of developing robust policies to guide its development and deployment responsibly becomes more mainstream. In this post, we will explore what AI policy is, why it is essential, and introduce key themes that will be covered throughout this series.
What is AI Policy?
Let’s start by completing this poll:
Of course it would be impossible to be 100% sure of your answer, but I think I can safely assume that the majority of readers have used some kind of AI in the last week. Whether it’s asking Siri or Alexa for the weather, getting Netflix recommendations, or having Gmail auto-complete your sentences, AI is everywhere. Leave a comment below saying when you last used any sort of AI, and what it was.
The point is, AI usage is becoming increasingly prevalent in our society and culture. With this we are able to reap the numerous rewards, such as automation and assistance, but we also have to be cautious. While some may argue that an AI model can never be a human, or as capable as one, there are definitively certain aspects where an AI model will almost always outperform a human, and the scope of these aspects will only grow bigger.
Check out this graph last updated in 2024:
Kiela et al. (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
As seen in the graph, where the gray line is the “human score,” AI was able to surpass humans only in the last decade or so. But when we look at the graph we can see a pretty sharp incline in every line, so does this represent more of the development in the respective area of AI, or major breakthroughs in which AI could learn quicker and better? Well, I think that in more recent years, more work has been done in these respective fields of AI, which would explain the sharp incline. This shows AI’s capability to get exponentially better on an absolute scale, and relative to humans.
And this is where AI policy comes in.
So, what exactly is AI policy? In layman’s terms, AI policy refers to the set of regulations and guidelines that govern how artificial intelligence is developed, deployed, and used. Think of it as the rulebook for AI. It covers a broad range of issues, including ethics, regulations, data privacy, unfair biases, and the socio-economic impacts of AI. The main goal? To ensure AI technologies are safe, fair, and beneficial to society.
Ok, I know what you just read might be a lot to process, especially if you’re just seeing this topic for the first time, and you may be asking yourself: Why is AI policy even important?
Let me answer:
Why is AI policy important?
While this post merely serves as an introduction to the topic, let’s go over some broad areas in which AI policy is important.
Stay tuned, throughout the next posts in this series, we will be covering the following topics more in depth!
Ethical Considerations in AI: We’ll discuss issues like the bias in AI algorithms, the importance of transparency, and the ethical dilemmas posed by AI.
Regulatory Frameworks for AI: We’ll look at the existing AI regulations across different regions, compare approaches, and discuss the role of international organizations in AI governance. Especially the US, EU, and China.
AI in Public Sector and Government: We’ll explore how governments are using AI to improve public services, the challenges they face, and policy recommendations for successful integration.
AI and Human Rights: We’ll analyze the impact of AI on fundamental human rights and discuss policies to protect these rights in the age of AI.
AI and the Future of Work: We’ll examine AI’s impact on job markets, strategies for workforce reskilling, and policy measures to manage economic disruptions. What can we learn from previous industrial revolutions?
AI in Healthcare: We’ll review regulatory considerations and ethical issues in AI healthcare applications and share successful case studies.
AI and National/Global Security: We’ll discuss the role of AI in national defense and security, and address policy implications of autonomous weapons and surveillance systems. This issue is something that prevails on a global level. Check out this graph showing the market share of each country in AI chip manufacturing:
Center for Security and Emerging Technology (2022)
AI and Climate Change: We’ll explore how AI can aid in climate change mitigation and adaptation and discuss sustainable AI practices. Spoiler: AI is not sustainable.
Public-Private Partnerships in AI: We’ll highlight the importance of government-industry collaboration and offer policy recommendations for fostering partnerships. Should we keep AI 100% privatized? Is it safe?
AI and Education: We’ll discuss the integration of AI into education systems, policies for equitable access to AI education, and the role of AI in personalized learning.
Global AI Ethics Initiatives: We’ll review global ethical AI initiatives and standards, and discuss the importance of international cooperation.
The Role of AI in Economic Policy: We’ll analyze AI’s impact on economic growth, discuss policies to support AI-driven innovation, and balance economic advancements with equity.
AI and Intellectual Property: We’ll examine challenges in AI-related intellectual property law, discuss policies to protect AI innovations, and share relevant case studies.
Future Trends in AI Policy: We’ll predict future developments in AI policy, discuss emerging issues and challenges, and how to prepare for upcoming AI advancements.
Stay tuned for the next post on “Ethical Considerations in AI,” and if you haven’t already, please make sure to subscribe!