Amplifying the Asian perspectives on AI governance

By Jovina Ang

SMU Office of Research – Despite the rapid growth and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI such as ChatGPT, the governance and regulation of AI have not kept pace with the rapid advancement of technology. 

If you were to ask AI experts, most of them would agree that there needs to be coordination of AI governance to not only optimise the benefits of AI, but also avoid potential risks.

Without proper governance, AI tools can pose significant risks to individuals, communities, and even entire nations and their democracies. 

Across the world, the governance of AI has been dominated by four main players, the European Union, United Kingdom, United States and China. “To date, there is still a lack of Asian voices in the governance of AI, and Asia’s perspectives on the debate have not only been insufficiently articulated but are scattered across the region,” explained Jane Loo, Senior Research Associate and Adjunct Faculty at the SMU Yong Pung How School of Law (YPHSL).

“The ‘SMU-Microsoft Asian Dialogue on AI Governance’ initiative aims to bridge this gap by providing a forum to address the lack of Asian voices and perspectives on questions of AI governance. The dialogue brings together a multi-disciplinary group of researchers and experts on AI governance from different academic institutions around APAC to collaborate on this important matter,” she added.

Centre of AI and Data Governance (CAIDG)

In 2019, the CAIDG, which is an inter-disciplinary research centre at the YPHSL, was formed. The centre focuses on three interlocking streams of research: 

• Data Governance 
• Emerging Technology Regulation 
• Digital Law 

Since its inception, the CAIDG has published research and white papers on contemporary challenges in AI and big data, the ethics of human and algorithmic decision-making and recommendations on AI governance policies. CAIDG research strives to bring a constructive regional inflection to global debates about digital transformation, facilitating essential conversations between industry, government, academia and civil society to promote the responsible development and deployment of novel technology.

“I‘ve had the opportunity to work in the intersection of AI and access to justice, the influence of AI on the rule of law, reviewed manuscripts for the Singapore Academy of Law Journal’s Special Issue on AI & Data Governance, as well as be involved in the ‘SMU-Microsoft Asian Dialogue on AI Governance’ since joining the CAIDG approximately four years ago.”  

“One of the key research projects that I was initially involved in when I first joined CAIDG is ‘The Vulnerability Project’. The project delves into the discriminatory consequences of COVID-19 control measures, such as the use of surveillance tools to curb the spread of the virus among vulnerable populations,” commented Loo, one of the recipients of the SMU Research Staff Excellence Awards 2023.

“Currently, my research focuses on the impact of the gig economy and comparative approaches to AI governance including Singapore’s AI governance approach versus the EU AI Act,” Loo elaborated. 

“More recently, I have also completed visiting positions at the University of Auckland and the Technical University of Munich. These experiences and exchanges have afforded me the opportunity to engage with renowned scholars in the field to broaden my understanding on AI governance issues,” she added. 

Loo currently teaches a course on ‘AI, Law and Ethics’ at the YPHSL and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. 

SMU-Microsoft Asian Dialogue on AI Governance

The ‘SMU-Microsoft Asian Dialogue on AI Governance’ was initiated in 2019 with funding from Microsoft to address the lack of an Asia-wide forum for discussions and debates on AI Governance. 

In the last few years, the Dialogue has gained substantial relevance in the region, effectively evolving into a research network bringing together a multi-disciplinary group of researchers and experts to discuss critical issues on AI governance. 

The Dialogue’s objective is to contribute to a more coherent approach to AI governance across the Asia Pacific region by fostering an exchange of views on the governance of AI, and deepening research collaborations in areas relevant to industries, governments, cultures and communities.

To date, under the auspices of the Dialogue, four workshops have been held including an initial kick-off event and three other roundtables in Singapore, Auckland, and New Delhi. The roundtables have been structured around central concepts in AI governance including principles of accountability, fairness, and transparency. The upcoming roundtable in Seoul will examine the role of standards in global AI governance. 

A report highlighting the preliminary findings and open questions from these workshops is currently underway and will be disseminated by the end of the 2024. 

When asked what energises her about her role, Loo replied: “The work is incredibly exciting and thought-provoking. Delving into the ethical implications of AI on society really challenges us to think critically about our interactions with technology and its place in our lives. The best part of my work is really getting to integrate important research findings into the course that I am teaching on ‘AI, Law and Ethics’ for SMU’s postgraduate programme.”

She adds: “It is truly rewarding to see students engage with the course materials and case studies. I hope to inspire our SMU students to not only critically evaluate the potential benefits and risks of AI, but also to equip them with the knowledge and intellectual curiosity to go on to contribute to the responsible development and governance of ethical, human-centric AI.”

Information about the SMU-Microsoft Asian Dialogue on AI Governance can be found at this link.

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