Mark Kennedy’s speech at the BGF Conference “AIWS – New Democracy”
Harvard University Loeb House, November 25, 2024
During my first year in Congress in 2001, I faced a vote on whether to maintain Normal Trade Relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). I shared the belief of many at that time that democracy and capitalism were on the march and that digital technologies would empower citizens and consumers to help both spread across the planet. We believed then that the internet would empower citizens to hold their governments accountable. It was inconceivable that innovation could flourish in an environment of restricted access to information like in the PRC. We hoped that greater engagement with China would integrate them into the rules-based international order. With this view of the future, I voted to continue China’s trade status.
Oops.
The passage of time has revealed three realities. First, technology has undermined democracy and empowered authoritarian regimes. Second, the PRC is intent on undermining the rules based global order. Third, closed societies like the PRC can advance technology.
In 2017, the PRC issued an artificial intelligence (AI) development plan seeking to establish China as the world leader in AI by 2030. In August of 2021, China surprised the US by testing a new hypersonic missile that circled the globe and then maneuvered to its target with its guidance and maneuvering likely using AI. This threat to the US homeland was enabled in significant part by American technology. Even so, it demonstrated how the PRC’s unwavering focus and immense government resources can achieve ambitious technology goals.
Please see fulll here: https://bostonglobalforum.org/publication/ten-steps-to-win-the-ai-race/
