The AI World Society Initiative (AIWS), was conceived by the Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation on November 22, 2017 as a way to build a social model that will make Artificial Intelligence (AI) safe, trustworthy, transparent, and humanistic.
AI World Society is not an organization. AIWS is a set of ideas, concepts, standards, norms, models, and innovations.
1. AIWS – An Artificial Intelligence Initiative for Humanity
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the world we live in, from work to recreation, from healthcare to education, from governance to social interaction. AI applications are growing in number and usefulness, as the technology works its way into nearly every aspect of our lives.
On November 22, 2017, the AI World Society (AIWS) was conceived as a pioneering initiative of the Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation. The goal is to inform thinking about AI so that it can contribute to the good of society—now and well into the future.
The unpredictability of the Internet, computer operating systems, networks, and computer applications have often led to cyber security failures. AI’s impact on society suggests a need to establish technical standards, institutions, and norms to ensure AI’s safe implementation and give it an ethical foundation.
2. Mission and Goal
AIWS as a loosely structured cooperative for the encouragement of new ideas, concepts, standards, norms, models, and innovations relating to AI.
AIWS has two overarching objectives:
- Minimize AI’s potential for harm and threats to humanity.
- Promote the utilization of AI in ways that benefit society and serve the needs of local, business and social communities, as well as those of nations.
3. AIWS Initiatives
The founders of AIWS are Professor Michael Dukakis, president of the Michael Dukakis Institute and former Governor of Massachusetts, and Nguyen Anh Tuan, director of the Michael Dukakis Institute and former Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet.
AIWS seeks to:
- Establish an AI ethical framework;
- Promulgate international standards and norms for AI development and implementation;
- Develop a framework for AI social governance;
- Promote the benefits of AI, particularly in regard to governance and society;
- Create AI products and services that accord with AIWS goals.
4. Open Cooperation Mechanism
The initiatives will be managed by the AIWS research team in Greater Boston, and expanded worldwide through email, live seminars and forums, The AIWS Newsletter, discussion on Minds.com and social networking.
AIWS will organize periodic roundtable discussions chaired by Michael Dukakis. Participants will include AI developers, thought leaders, innovators, artists, and leading AI authorities.
AIWS will recognize through awards those who make exemplary contributions to AI that are aligned with the goals of AIWS.
Scholars and thought leaders from the following organizations, among others, are expected to contribute to AIWS’s work: Minds.com, Google, Intel, Political Science Department – MIT, MIT Media Lab, MIT – Department of Neuroscience, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Medical School, Ethics Institute – Northeastern University, Computer Science Department – Tufts University, Viettel, SunViet, VietNamNet, Vietnam Report, Vietnam Cheo Theatre, and Vietnam Digital Association, and Vietnam Ministry of Public Security.
Mr. Nguyen, AIWS’s Director, notes: “This is an open project. We encourage leaders and influentials with an interest in AI to join in the effort and we invite the participation of scholars, government and business leaders, technologists, artists, and students.”