The Policy Network on AI had four active Sub-groups in 2024:
- Sub-group on Liability as a mechanism for supporting AI accountability
- Sub-group on Labour issues throughout AI’s life cycle
- Sub-group on AI Governance, interoperability and good practices
- Sub-group on Environmental Sustainability within Generative AI value chain
PNAI Sub-groups prepared Discussion Papers that were presented to the wider PNAI community in October 2024. The Sub-groups were led by volunteer Sub-group leaders and shared their progress with the PNAI Multistakeholder Working Group (MWG). See PNAI’s 2024 Work Plan to learn more about the process. The work culminated in publication of the PNAI Policy Brief 2024: The AI Governance We Want, Call to action: Liability, Interoperability, Sustainability & Labour. The report outlines the 2024 work conducted by the Policy Network on Artificial Intelligence, highlighting key findings, sharing outcomes, and presenting policy recommendations. The report and its recommendations were discussed in the IGF 2024 annual meeting in Riyadh and online in December 2024.
The Sub-groups organized regular online meetings to discuss, debate and learn. Experts and individuals interested in exploring these topics were welcomed to contribute. Please see below information on each group.
Sub-group on Liability as a mechanism for supporting AI accountability
The Sub-group explored mechanisms for governance frameworks to incorporate accountability principles that include financial liability for AI systems across the lifecycle. Clarifying financial liability will incentivize AI developers to adequately safeguard against harms caused by bad or careless actors damaging to individuals, communities and societies. Additionally, liability frameworks can serve as resilient policy mechanisms for reducing harms, taking into account that this fast-evolving technology can quickly outgrow monitoring and auditing-based oversight regimes.
- Team Leaders: Caroline Friedman Levy and Umut Pajaro Velasquez
- Meetings: The Sub-group held regular online meetings in 2024. Invitations were sent to members + shared through the PNAI mailing list.
Sub-group on Labour issues within AI’s life cycle
The Sub-group studied labor issues related to AI systems' lifecycle and analyzes both the opportunities and challenges they pose. The Sub-group recognized the importance of governance frameworks throughout AI’s lifecycle to guarantee that all relevant stakeholders are taken into account, in order to protect workers rights while also promoting technological innovation. On that note the group provided recommendations on how to better assess the labor related issues through AI’s lifecycle, and how to promote meaningful policy discussions that defend a human-centered and human rights based development and deployment of AI systems in the labor market.
Team Leaders: Olga Cavalli and Germán López
Meetings: The Sub-group held regular online meetings in 2024. Invitations were sent to members directly + shared through the PNAI mailing list
Sub-group on Environmental Sustainability and the Generative AI value chain
The Sub-group focused on environmental considerations and assessing and mitigating the environmental footprint of AI technologies across the entire Generative AI value-chain, which range from considerations of fairness in access and availability of high-quality environmental data to understanding the materiality and intense consumption of natural resources associated with AI. The Group gathered and analyzed case studies from around the world that highlight best practices to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of AI.
- Team Leaders: Shamira Ahmed and Mohd Asyraf Zulkifley
- Meetings: The Sub-group held regular online meetings in 2024. Invitations were shared through the Sub-group mailing list + the PNAI mailing list
Sub-group on AI governance, Interoperability, and Good practices
The Sub-group analyzed how different AI regulatory, guidance, and policy initiatives across the world could work together to foster a harmonious coexistence among AI systems. The work aimed at developing multistakeholder recommendations on increasing interoperability of AI governance at the global level.
- Team Leaders: Amado Espinosa, Sergio Mayo, Yik Chan Chin and Chafic Chaya
- Meetings: The Sub-group held regular online meetings in 2024.