Issue 33: Let's Make AI a Public Good
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week we're thinking about how small states can transform artificial intelligence in the public sector – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Let’s Make AI a Public Good
Why isn’t artificial intelligence (AI) a public good in the United States? That’s the question posed in a critical new piece by technologists Ben Gansky, Michael Martin, and Ganesh Sitaraman. Their argument is straightforward and long overdue. The development and use of AI technology is so important for society that it can’t be left to big tech giants alone. Moreover, the US government (and others like it) are missing a great opportunity to use AI for good across the public sector. About time, right?
Data everywhere: Another week, another data scandal. This week the Wall Street Journal reported that Google has been secretly collectingthe medical records of millions of Americans through a venture code-named “Project Nightingale”. This regulatory blindspot highlights the profound role that governments should play in our digital lives. If medical records were stored securely with the help of a government-administered data pool, such an overreach might not have occurred. Perhaps that's a step too far but it's time data is managed differently. The technology is out there, what is stopping more governments from using it?
Bring in the public sector: Right now, according to the authors mentioned above, Google and other technology giants “have an extraordinary amount of data about how we behave, largely because they engage in widespread surveillance of much of our behaviour. Because AI depends on data, these companies have a huge market advantage over start-ups and entrepreneurs”. The solution is a public data pool enabling registered users access to a sort of digital commons. Verification protocols would be strict to keep out any hacker elements.
Look to small states: Remarkably, these steps have already been taken by smaller countries like Estonia and the UAE. Given their nimble regulatory environments and commitment to future technologies, these countries have managed to integrate government and data. In Estonia, public medical records are already stored on a secure blockchain and the results have been encouraging. The UAE has established a Ministry of AI to create new ways for the Government to use the technology for good. It’s time for more governments to ensure that the benefits of AI are spread across society.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification.”
Karl Popper, philosopher
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
The edge of innovation: Governments around the world invest in military research to advance technologies such as AI. This investment often results in innovations that trickle down to other sectors. With the announcement of a major new defence conglomerate in Abu Dhabi tasked with research in technology, we reviewed how fresh investment could spur innovation in the UAE. Building a viable knowledge economy requires investments in military research, and the UAE is taking critical steps to make this happen.
New life for blockchain: China has a long and varied relationship with blockchain technology but that’s all changing. The Chinese leadership has raised the technology to a core asset of the country and is planning its own digital currency based on a blockchain. Moreover, funding will be made available for the study of blockchain technologies at the university level. This will have profound implications for how blockchain develops in China and beyond. We forecast what will come next.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Trash to treasure: Amsterdam is one of the world’s best cities for getting lost. Its meandering streets seem to breathe history and invite walkers to lose their way only to discover some profound artifact. City planners are fully aware of this narrative, so they’re trying to get residents more involved by … giving away trash. Well, stonework to be more exact. The Guardian reports that the city council is giving stonework pieces dating back to the 17th century to residents who promise to preserve them. It’s a novel way to ensure residents have a part of the Amsterdam story and work to protect it.
Blast from the past: James Dean, who has been dead for decades, is starring in a new film this winter. Thanks to advances in CGI, filmmakers have created a realistic version of the famed Hollywood actor who can star in new films. But not everyone is thrilled. "Lord of the Rings" star Elijah Wood wrote on Twitter, “This is awful. Maybe we can get a computer to paint us a new Picasso. Or write a couple of new John Lennon tunes.” Well, Mr Wood, computers are already painting Picassos.