Session
WS #100 Integrating the Global South in Global AI Governance: Improving digital governance for the Internet We Want
Organizer 1: Salma Alkhoudi
Organizer 2: Salem Fadi, MBR School of Government
Speaker 1: Roeske Martin, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Deniz Susar, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 3: Gilles Fayad, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Nibal Idlebi, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 5: Sherifa Sherif, Government, African Group
Salem Fadi, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Salma Alkhoudi, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Salma Alkhoudi, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Theater
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The theater room layout is ideal for sharing research findings and also having a successful panel discussion. It ensures that online and onsite participants have a similar quality of experience. It allows all attendees to focus their attention on the discussion and the panelists’ contributions while also accommodating for a broader exchange between the panelists and the audience. The 90-minute duration ensures there is ample time for in-depth discussion followed by a dedicated Q&A segment, encouraging active engagement from the audience.
1. What does inclusive AI governance look like and what are the goals that inclusion should be aiming for? 2. What role can multinational organizations, local governments and the private sector play in promoting inclusive participation and representation in global AI governance mechanisms and frameworks? 3. How can we ensure equitable distribution of AI benefits and mitigate risks across all countries, particularly those within the Global South? 4. How can we develop global AI governance frameworks that account for the diverse needs of the Global South and prevent bias in AI applications?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will learn the findings of an in-depth research project that delves into the challenges and opportunities of inclusive AI governance for the MENA and will share in an important and nuanced discussion about the multifaceted challenges to including the Global South, and particularly the MENA, in global AI governance frameworks and mechanisms. They will hear about the collaborative strategies that governments, the private sector, and international organizations have employed to improve inclusivity in governance frameworks as well as the obstacles they have faced and opportunities for future success. They will learn about and contribute to suggestions for ways to enhance inclusivity, ensure fair representation and foster accountability in global AI governance practices.
Description:
Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly affecting the entire world, but the distribution of its benefits and risks is uneven, with a handful of private sector actors and states reaping most of the benefits of AI development, while other countries bear most of the risks. As the global ‘digital canyon’ widens, we run the risk of relegating the Global South to the role of the role of consumers and data providers, marginalizing their perspectives and specific needs in shaping AI applications and policies. The expanding "digital canyon" exacerbates global disparities and poses a threat to the attainment of SDGs, underscoring the pressing need to address inequalities in representation in global AI governance frameworks and mechanisms. The MBRSG, with the support of google.org, is conducting a yearlong research project into the specific challenges and opportunities for integration of the MENA region into global AI governance frameworks and potential ways to drive the competitiveness of the AI ecosystem in the region. We will use this workshop as a platform to share some of the important findings of this research and to kick off a discussion with discussants from critical sectors. This workshop focuses on the challenges and opportunities of integrating the Global South, particularly the MENA region, into global AI governance frameworks. Discussants from academia, technical community, and the private sector will come together to discuss the role of local governments, international organizations, and technology companies in ensuring the equal participation of all countries in global AI governance frameworks to make representation and oversight mechanisms more inclusive, to ensure accountability, improve representativeness and mitigate bias in AI algorithms, and ensure access to resources and data.
The workshop aims to share the findings of an important research project and produce actionable insights on integrating the Global South, specifically the MENA, into global AI governance frameworks, including a set of policy recommendations for enhancing global cooperation and equitable AI development. The workshop will feed into ongoing research efforts by the MBRSG on issues related to inclusion of the MENA in global governance, improving access to resources and enabling AI ecosystems across the region.
Hybrid Format: We will use a combination of live streaming and interactive tools for Q&A to facilitate interaction between onsite and online participants. Slides will be used in the online stream to ensure that online participants are able to follow with the onsite discussion. The session will prioritize engagement from both groups equally by taking one online and one onsite question in turn. The session will have two dedicated moderators for online interaction to ensure seamless integration of comments and questions.