IGF 2024 WS #219 AI Divide:The New Wave of Digital Inequality

    Organizer 1: Xingdong FANG, 🔒Zhejiang University
    Organizer 2: Yuanyuan Fan, 🔒Zhejiang University

    Speaker 1: Xingdong FANG, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
    Speaker 2: Yu Zhao, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
    Speaker 3: Xianhong Hu, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Moderator

    Xingdong FANG, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

    Online Moderator

    Yuanyuan Fan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

    Rapporteur

    Yuanyuan Fan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

    Format

    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: This format would allow for a more in-depth exploration of the topic, including its implications for global development and the specific challenges faced by developing countries.

    The layout of roundtable could allow for more interactive discussions and the sharing of best practices. Participants could engage in group activities to brainstorm innovative approaches to addressing the Artificial Intelligence Divide and develop concrete strategies for implementation.

    As for duration, a session of around 90 minutes would likely be sufficient to cover the topic comprehensively while allowing for audience engagement and interaction.

    Policy Question(s)

    1.How can we enhance governance frameworks to address the external nature of the Artificial Intelligence Divide, particularly in regions with limited access to AI resources and expertise?

    2.What governance mechanisms should be established or strengthened to mitigate the risks associated with the Artificial Intelligence Divide, such as exacerbating inequality and reinforcing existing power imbalances?

    3.In what ways can global governance mechanisms be strengthened to facilitate collaborative efforts among nations and organizations in bridging the Artificial Intelligence Divide and ensuring equitable access to AI advancements?

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain a nuanced understanding of the Artificial Intelligence Divide, its unique exogenous nature, and the multifaceted challenges it presents to global development. They will learn about the specific impacts on developing regions and the need for tailored governance strategies. The session will provide insights into potential frameworks for technological, social, and global governance reforms, emphasizing the role of international cooperation and common understanding. Attendees will leave equipped with a broader perspective on the AI landscape, an appreciation for the urgency of the issue, and conceptual tools that can be applied to foster inclusive growth and bridge the digital divide in the context of AI. The importance of a proactive role by entities like the United Nations will also be highlighted, offering a blueprint for collective action and policymaking aimed at ensuring equitable AI development and deployment.

    Description:

    The Artificial Intelligence Divide is rapidly emerging as the most significant challenge facing nations and humanity's survival and development. The lack of sufficient academic responses, social attention, and global response mechanisms to the Artificial Intelligence Divide, swift and profound, will pose a significant threat to the global development process, particularly the realities of developing countries in regions such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The progress made by developing countries in narrowing the gap with developed countries over the years may potentially be reversed due to the Artificial Intelligence Divide, leading to a new “North-South problem” for the international community to confront. The access divide and literacy divide exhibit distinct endogenous characteristics, which can be effectively addressed through a series of holistic national developments, including overall economic growth and individual education. However, the Artificial Intelligence Divide has distinct exogenous characteristics, being an external and constructed gap, which necessitates improvement or resolution through enhanced technological governance, social governance, and global governance. Like other significant issues requiring joint efforts from the international community, the governance path of the Artificial Intelligence Divide will also involve collective action based on shared understanding. The urgency of the Artificial Intelligence Divide issue demands focused attention from all parties, with the United Nations taking a crucial step forward.

    Expected Outcomes

    1.A synthesized set of actionable policy recommendations addressing the global AI divide.
    2.Publication of a comprehensive policy brief outlining the recommendations, targeted at policymakers, international organizations, and stakeholders in the AI divide ecosystem.
    3.Initiation of a multilateral dialogue platform to facilitate ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange on global AI divide governance.
    4.Identification of potential follow-up events, workshops, or working groups to further explore specific aspects of AI divide governance and implementation strategies.

    Hybrid Format: The whole session can be broadcast online through Zoom or Facebook Live, which will be managed by the organizer of the panel. The moderator will first ask speakers to introduce their own countries multi-stakeholder system, and then invite all participants on-site and online to involve in the session by the lead of speakers.