WIC hosts AI Safety and Governance Program seminar

The World Internet Conference (WIC) Specialized Committee on Artificial Intelligence (SC on AI) held a seminar on its AI Safety and Governance Program.

More than 30 experts and scholars from international organizations, universities, think tanks and leading AI enterprises participated in the seminar, either in person or online, discussing the work plan of AI Safety and Governance Program for 2025, research framework and expected outcomes. 

The World Internet Conference Specialized Committee on Artificial Intelligence holds a seminar on its advancement plan for AI safety and governance in Beijing on Jan 17. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

The meeting was chaired by Zeng Yi, chair of the WIC SC on AI, lead of the AI Safety and Governance Program, and director of the International Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance of the Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh, director of the AI: Futures and Responsibility Programme at University of Cambridge and lead of the AI Safety and Governance Program, delivered a summary speech.

The seminar began with an introduction by a representative from the Office of the WIC SC on AI, who outlined the committee's work plan for 2025, as well as the schedules and expected outcomes for various events. The AI Safety and Governance Program will focus on two key issues of "AI governance and sustainable development" and "designing a global framework for AI safety and governance" in 2025, with joint research initiatives planned for both topics.

Zeng elaborated on the report framework and work considerations for the research on AI governance and sustainable development, set to take place in the first half of the year. He also discussed the current role of AI in promoting sustainable development, highlighting challenges in both research and application.

The experts and scholars in attendance discussed AI governance, AI and sustainable development, international cooperation in AI capacity building, and AI safety, while  key research findings in the areas of international governance and sustainable development of AI were shared.

Discussions covered topics such as bridging the digital and intelligence divide, promoting open-source AI innovation, empowering digital transformation, mitigating the negative social and environmental impacts of AI, addressing AI ethics and safety risks, and fostering inclusive development of diverse cultures worldwide.

Participants recognized the importance and positive significance of the joint research on AI governance and sustainable development. They emphasized the need to maximize the role of WIC SC on AI to deepen research and cooperation on these topics through the AI Safety and Governance Program, in a bid to build international consensus, make accelerated efforts to find solutions and ensure that AI benefits mankind in a more equitable and sustainable way.