On September 2, 2024, Mark Kennedy, Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, and Nguyen Anh Tuan, CEO of Boston Global Forum, will co-moderate a Roundtable of the Indo-Pacific Spark Initiative. Titled “Indo-Pacific for Peace, Love, and Innovation in the AI Age,” this event will foster collaboration between key cities—Boston, Nha Trang, Tokyo, and Bengaluru—to explore how these regions can collectively drive innovation and contribute to global peace and prosperity in the AI Age. Distinguished figures from the US, Japan, India, and Vietnam will participate, sharing insights and strategies to enhance economic, technological, and social cooperation.
This Roundtable is part of the broader partnership between Boston Global Forum and the Wilson Center, seeking to explore and push avenues of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific between the US, Japan, India, and Vietnam, for a more peaceful and secure region and world. Topics of importance include AI development, tech ecosystems, and trade.
For more information or to express interest in joining the Roundtable, please contact the Chief of Staff of BGF-Wilson Center joint team at [email protected].
At the Boston Global Forum conference “Governing the Future: AI, Democracy and Humanity” on April 30, 2024, Harvard University’s Loeb House, MIT Professor Nazli Choucri, BGF Board Member, emphasized the growing importance of knowledge in the era of Artificial Intelligence. In her presentation, Professor Choucri highlighted how AI is not just a technological advancement but a driving force behind the transition to a knowledge-based economy. She pointed out that AI’s capacity to enhance value-added activities, particularly in knowledge-intensive sectors such as law and medicine, is transforming how we approach economic development and sustainability.
Prof. Choucri stressed that the shift toward a knowledge economy, supported by AI, can significantly accelerate sustainable development. Unlike previous industrial transitions that often involved disruptive or destructive processes, she advocated for “creative instruction” rather than “creative destruction.” This approach suggests that AI should be harnessed not merely for efficiency but for fostering innovation and intellectual growth.
A significant portion of her address focused on the Knowledge Platform for AI, a new initiative launched by the BGF and AI World Society. Professor Choucri discussed how this platform is designed to be a core component in nurturing a knowledge-based economy. The platform aims to leverage AI to promote innovation and sustainable practices across various sectors, including law, medicine, and governance. By doing so, it seeks to align technological advancements with societal needs, ensuring that AI serves as a tool for the public good.
After the conclusion of her North America trip, including a meeting with BGF leaders in Massachusetts, Amma, the World Peace and Security Award 2023 recipient, will now visit Japan. Below are details of her tour in the country:
“Amma will visit #Tokyo, #Japan from August 14 – 16. Everyone is welcome!
The programs will take place at:
Bellesalle Takadanobaba
1-36-4 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Sumitomo Realty & Development Takadanobaba Garden Tower B2 & 1F
The Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition and the Boston Global Forum launch the Indo-Pacific Spark Club, a prestigious network of business leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region. This club is dedicated to fostering a peaceful, secure, and prosperous world in the AI Age. The Indo-Pacific Spark Club will facilitate strategic discussions and collaborations among its members, focusing on leveraging AI and technological innovation to promote economic growth, social harmony, and global security.
Members of the Indo-Pacific Spark Club will participate in roundtables, conferences, and discussions with leaders, policymakers, and distinguished thinkers to build a robust ecosystem of economy, culture, and politics. These efforts will be aimed at fostering peace, love, and innovation in the Age of AI.
Through regular meetings, roundtables, and collaborative projects, members will share insights and develop initiatives aimed at enhancing the region’s role in global affairs. The club will also serve as a platform for leaders to address pressing challenges and explore new opportunities for cooperation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape and in the rising tense geopolitical climate.
For more information or to join the Indo-Pacific Spark Club, please contact the Chief Staff of the BGF-Wilson Center joint team at [email protected].
Even though the frontlines have been relatively static, the war is still raging, in both Ukraine itself, and with Russian (and Chinese) information wars on the Four Pillars. The Pillars continue to back Ukraine in their struggle, with F-16s now active and more aid sent. Between the Pillars and Russia directly, it is good to see journalist Evan Gershkovich (and marine Paul Whelan) freed, but it does give one hesitation about the “we do(n’t) negotiate with terrorists” dilemma the Pillars will now face – hopefully no British or American citizen have the foolishness to voluntarily go to Russia after all the high-profile incidents in recent years. Furthermore, the Pillars will need to be wary of – surprise – Russian interference in elections. Although it is not THE cause for election outcomes being the ways they are, disinformation, as carried by unwitting civilians and voters, are designed to obfuscate and polarize societies. The enemies of the Pillars do not need to put their favored candidate or outcome in power, they just need to magnify the cleavages in public discourse and worsen mutual trust in society – in effect, get people to fight amongst themselves and have nations commit domestic suicide.
India continues stepping up its role as a leader in maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, forming close relations with Vietnam due to shared concerns about China. The US and Japan, two Pillars, continue to explore collaboration for defense and security in the region. It is important that these three Pillars are taking seriously their roles to guarantee peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, and also around the world. But one also needs to be aware that more still have to be done vis-a-vis deterrence and preparation against an emboldened China.
Airmen assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron and Fighter Generation Squadron perform pre-flight checks on F-35A Lightning IIs at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, March 28, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Keagan Lee)
Minh Nguyen is the Chief Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
