Article by Rohan Sharma: “Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to solve some of today’s most pressing societal challenges – from climate change to healthcare disparities – but it could also exacerbate existing inequalities if not developed and deployed responsibly.
The rapid pace of AI development, growing awareness of AI’s societal impact and the urgent need to harness AI for positive change make bridging the ‘AI divide’ essential now. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can play a crucial role in ensuring AI is developed ethically, sustainably and inclusively by leveraging the strengths of multiple stakeholders across sectors and regions…
To bridge the AI divide effectively, collaboration among governments, private companies, civil society and other stakeholders is crucial. PPPs unite these stakeholders’ strengths to ensure AI is developed ethically, sustainably, and inclusively.
1. Bridging the resource and expertise gap
By combining public oversight and private innovation, PPPs bridge resource and expertise gaps. Governments offer funding, regulations and access to public data; companies contribute technical expertise, creativity and market solutions. This collaboration accelerates AI technologies for social good.
Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0, for instance, exemplifies how PPPs drive ethical AI development. By bringing together over one hundred experts from academia, industry and government, Singapore is building a trusted AI ecosystem focused on global challenges like health and climate change. Empowering citizens and businesses to use AI responsibly, Singapore demonstrates how PPPs create inclusive AI systems, serving as a model for others.
2. Fostering cross-border collaboration
AI development is a global endeavour, but countries vary in expertise and resources. PPPs facilitate international knowledge sharing, technology transfer and common ethical standards, ensuring AI benefits are distributed globally, rather than concentrated in a few regions or companies.
3. Ensuring multi-stakeholder engagement
Inclusive AI development requires involving not just public and private sectors, but also civil society organizations and local communities. Engaging these groups in PPPs brings diverse perspectives to AI design and deployment, integrating ethical, social and cultural considerations from the start.
These approaches underscore the value of PPPs in driving AI development through diverse expertise, shared resources and international collaboration…(More)”.