IGF 2024 Day 0 Event #55 Sharing and Exchanging Compute: New Digital Divisions

    Emerging Youth Initiative


    Name: Gabriel Karsan, Founding Director,
    Emerging Youth Initiative

    Dr. Monojit Das
    Executive Editor, India Aerospace Magazine
    Technical Group, Asia

    Dr. Jannatul Ferdous
    Associate Professor, Comilla
    University. Bangladesh

    Kyezonya Blessing Bako
    Tech Policy Expert - Global South perspectives

    Speakers

    Dr. Monojit Das
    Executive Editor, India Aerospace Magazine
    Technical Group, Asia

    Dr. Jannatul Ferdous
    Associate Professor, Comilla
    University. Bangladesh

    Samaila Bako
    Cybersecurity Expert, CSEAN
    Technical stakeholder, Africa

    Milton Cabral
    CapeVerde Digital
    Government stakeholder, Africa

    Onsite Moderator

    Jesse Nathan Kalange

    Online Moderator

    Ihita Gangrapavu

    Rapporteur

    Kyezonya Blessing Bako

    SDGs

    4. Quality Education
    9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
    10. Reduced Inequalities
    17. Partnerships for the Goals


    Targets: Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10):
    Digital Inclusion Bridging the digital divide is a critical step toward reducing inequalities. By ensuring that everyone has access to modern computation tools, we empower marginalized communities and level the playing field.
    Affordability:Addressing the high costs associated with internet access aligns with SDG 10. Making connectivity affordable for all promotes economic and social equity.

    Supporting Innovation (SDG 9):
    Frontier Technologies: Encouraging collaboration around frontier technologie such as quantum computing, AI, and clean energy directly contributes to SDG 9. These innovations drive economic growth, enhance industry, and foster sustainable development.
    Open Source Collaboration: Promoting open-source collaboration democratizes innovation. When knowledge flows freely, it accelerates progress and benefits all, regardless of their geographical location.

    Quality Education (SDG 4):
    Digital Literacy:Digital literacy is a cornerstone of quality education. Empowering individuals with the skills to navigate complex interfaces, understand algorithms, and use computation effectively aligns with SDG 4.
    Norms and Policies: Educating policymakers and stakeholders about the normative aspects of frontier computation ensures that policies prioritize inclusivity and equitable access.

    Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17):
    Multistakeholder Dialogue: exemplifies SDG 17. By bringing together governments, tech companies, civil society, and academia, you foster collaboration and collective action.
    Shared Infrastructure: Collaborative efforts to build shared networking infrastructure resonate with SDG 17's emphasis on partnerships. Together, we can create an interconnected digital ecosystem.

    Format

    Theater

    Opening Remarks (10 minutes)
    We kick off by setting the stage. Our goal: to explore how shared computation can narrow digital gaps. Here’s what to expect:
    Welcome: A warm introduction to our session by moderator
    Context: Why bridging compute divides matters.
    Agenda Overview: A sneak peek into the session flow. (10 minutes)
    Experts take the floor. They’ll share insights on:
    Compute Disparities: What’s at stake?
    Challenges: The invisible barriers hindering access.
    Solutions: How can we level the playing field?
    3. Interactive Panel (25 minutes)
    Our diverse panel dives deep:
    Shared Infrastructure: Can we build it together?
    Policy Reflection: Balancing incentives and inclusivity.
    Digital Literacy: Empowering users.
    4. Breakout Sessions (20 minutes)
    You become part of the conversation:
    Small Groups: Discuss real-world scenarios.
    Scenario-Based: Tackle compute access, literacy, and norms.
    Report Back: Share your group’s insights.
    5. Q&A and Audience Participation (20 minutes)
    Your turn! Ask questions, challenge assumptions, and engage:
    Audience Queries: Fire away.
    Critical Inquiry: Let’s dig deeper.
    6. Closing Reflections (10 minutes)
    We wrap up:
    Key Takeaways: What did we learn?
    Call to Action: How can we bridge divides?

    Description

    In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, the pursuit of computational supremacy has become a global race. Quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other frontier technologies are reshaping human progress. However, as we accelerate toward this digital frontier, we encounter a stark reality: a deepening gap between those who benefit from these innovations and the next billion who remain on the periphery, dreaming of internet access.
    The Digital Divide Revisited: Unseen Barriers
    The term “digital divide” traditionally referred to the gap between those with internet access and those without. But today, it encompasses more than mere connectivity. Let’s explore the invisible barriers that exacerbate this divide:
    High Costs: While efforts focus on connecting everyone, affordability remains a critical issue. Internet prices in many developing countries far exceed the United Nations’ target of less than 2% of the national average monthly income1. Bridging this cost gap is essential.
    Low Digital Literacy: Access alone is insufficient. Empowering users with digital literacy skills is equally vital. Without the ability to navigate complex interfaces and utilize online tools effectively, connectivity remains underutilized1.
    Complex User Interfaces: Complicated interfaces hinder adoption. We must design user-friendly experiences that empower even the least tech-savvy individuals to harness the power of computation.
    Towards Inclusive Computation: A Multistakeholder Dialogue
    Our proposed Day 0 event aims to foster dialogue among stakeholders governments, tech companies, civil society, and academia around the following key elements:
    Shared Infrastructure: Imagine a world where shared networking infrastructure built on progressive clean energy enables seamless computation. By pooling resources, we can bridge gaps and democratize access.
    Quality Data: Access to clean, reliable data is fundamental. Let’s advocate for policies that prioritize data quality and openness, ensuring that everyone benefits from the digital ecosystem.
    Open Source Collaboration: Frontier technologies thrive when knowledge flows freely. Encouraging open-source collaboration can level the playing field, especially between global south and north regions.
    Literacy and Norms: Literacy extends beyond reading and writing. Digital literacy understanding algorithms, privacy, and security is essential. Norms around frontier computation should prioritize inclusivity.
    Social Capital as Human Capital
    We believe that interconnectedness is the bedrock of progress. When social capital knowledge shared, experiences exchanged is amplified by a robust internet infrastructure, it becomes human capital. Civic action and innovation emerge when barriers dissolve, and equal shaping of frontier tech becomes a reality

    We shall ensure effective engagement balance of using active chat, online equal slot management in questions, Use of the online mentimeter feature for polls and reflection for a collective and distributed inclusive participation of stakeholders.