Applying AI for social good is a principle that many tech companies have adhered to. They see AI as a tool that can help address some of the world’s most pressing problems, in areas such as climate change and disease eradication. The technology and its many applications certainly carry significant potential for good, but there are also risks. Accordingly, the policy implications of AI advancements are far‐reaching. While AI can generate economic growth, there are growing concerns over the significant disruptions it could bring to the labour market. Issues related to privacy, safety, and security are also in focus.
As innovations in the field continue, more and more AI standards and AI governance frameworks are being developed to help ensure that AI applications have minimal unintended consequences.
When debates on AI governance first emerged, one overarching question was whether AI-related challenges (in areas such as safety, privacy, and ethics) call for new legal and regulatory frameworks, or whether existing ones could be adapted to also cover AI.
Applying and adapting existing regulation was seen by many as the most suitable approach. But as AI innovation accelerated and applications became more and more pervasive, AI-specific governance and regulatory initiatives started emerging at national, regional, and international levels.
As governments, international organisations, experts, businesses, users, and others explore these and similar questions, our coverage of AI technology and policy is meant to help you stay up-to-date with developments in this field, grasp their meaning, and separate hype from reality.