by Admin | May 20, 2024 | News
I was drafting a little Four Pillars article on some statements and proclamations made over the week, but a notable event just had to happen in the Middle East again.
Not to make a mockery of a death, but Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is confirmed dead following a helicopter crash in the middle of thick fog and mountainous regions. The helicopter also carried the foreign minister and some other staffers and officials. While conspiracies may fly, it can be assumed that this was more likely an incident than sabotage – it does not take much to see how a helicopter could fail to function in bad weather conditions and through risky terrains. If foul play was likely, it would be allowing the helicopter to take off, and allowing multiple officials to board that craft too. If I were a world leader, I would never get in helicopters ever. Although he was more of a mouthpiece of the hardliners than a power broker, Raisi was also the heir apparent to Khamenei, the current Ayatollah of Iran, and these deaths can throw Iranian politics in flux due to the sheer number of top officials lost, but it is unclear what direction the government will take from here.
The tariffs the Biden administration was reportedly imposing on China, most importantly on Chinese EVs, was officially announced earlier this week – to some controversy. It seems that the EU, another of the Pillars, is debating following the same route against China that the US has taken. It may be unwise economically to engage in a trade war, but it is necessary to not allow CCP-subsidized exports to dominate a market in the Pillars – especially in automobiles, as that gives the CCP a leverage over the Pillars when it comes to, say the South China Sea or Taiwan.
In Europe, while Ukraine was able to repel the Russian incursion into Kharkiv last week, members in NATO’s eastern flank continue to raise alarms about the potential need for them to deploy troops within Ukraine. Estonia has made such an announcement, and countries like Poland may follow too. Possibilities of NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine seems to increase every week, even if only marginally.
Articles of the week – China Has Gotten the Trade War It Deserves [Michael Schulman, The Atlantic] and (Japanese-language article) The Other Quad (Noburu Okabe, Sankei Shimbun)
AP: In this photo provided by Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi takes off at the Iranian border with Azerbaijan after President Raisi and his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev inaugurated dam of Qiz Qalasi, or Castel of Girl in Azeri, Iran, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Ali Hamed Haghdoust/IRNA via AP)
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.
by Admin | May 20, 2024 | News
Before the conference to honor Dr. Alondra Nelson with 2024 World Leader in AIWS on April 30, BGF Chief Editor Minh Nguyen interviewed Dr. Nelson. Watch the full conversation on YouTube.
“Science and technology policy affects everything.”
When I threw an icebreaker question to Dr. Alondra Nelson in our conversation, I did not realize her response would encapsulate her governance philosophy so well. It may sound like a very obvious remark, but contained within is an insight that unfortunately not all lawmakers across the world understand.
This hidden importance of science and technology governance was the underpinning current carrying our conversation on April 30.
Nelson already knew she was foraying into policymaking and governance, as her appointment to the OSTP was already announced by the then-President-elect Biden in Delaware. This was the first time she would be involved in policy making.
But we were not not there to talk about public health or epidemiology, as vital as that field is, AIWS after stands for Artificial Intelligence World Society – and Nelson’s most renowned expertises were technology, AI, and society. In fact, one of the reasons she was appointed to the OSTP was due her possession of insights into the intersections of the aforementioned fields.
As deputy director, she had already begun advocating heavily for a framework on AI that would protect democratic principles, but a turnover at the office created an opening to turn her idea into reality. Nelson was appointed acting director after her predecessor’s resignation, but she was not there to be a lame duck. The AI Bill of Rights, which she had already envisioned in a Wired magazine op-ed in 2021, was finally put together and published in early October 2022. Although she did not express it verbally that day, one could tell that Nelson is extremely proud (and deservedly so!) of bringing the framework to the public. It was one of the first guidelines on AI governance and its impact vis-a-vis society and democracy issued by the government.
Perhaps interestingly, this framework was published a month before OpenAI released ChatGPT for public consumption and that phenomenon took the public debate and discourse by storm.
While her tenure was a short one, Nelson was firm in her belief that she had fulfilled her vision and stood proud of her achievements at the OSTP, as aforementioned. In fact, many of the guidance established during her leadership were beginning to get implemented in federal departments – the foundations she laid out are starting to come to fruition. The Boston Global Forum would agree with her self-assessment, as she was honored with the World Leader in AIWS Award for her work as deputy and acting director of the OSTP.
As scientists know though, both social and material, that progress can’t just be measured in years, but rather decades and even longer. At time of writing, the AI Bill of Rights was issued only two years ago. When I asked what she hope would become of the foundations her and the Biden administration planted this term, she wish that their AI policies will ultimate harness the power of AI in helping global issues in health and climate change, but still mitigate the externalities and harms that are already impacting livelihoods, such as racial bias in facial recognition or disempowerment of workers.
Even if she returned to academia after her time at the OSTP concluded, Nelson remains deeply involved in AI governance and policymaking. Rather than working for the White House, she was appointed to be the US Representative to the UN High Level Advisory Board, effectively switching DC for New York.
While working in this space, Nelson founded areas of potential cooperations for global AI governance – that “fundamentally, across different kinds of economic systems, political systems, political ideologies, when you’re thinking about AI, emerging technologies, I think what people agree on, and certainly in the US in a bipartisan way is they want the benefits of these technologies and they want to mitigate the harms,” she explained to me. Even though there are differing visions or geopolitical rivalries amongst member-states, this baseline of common understanding and aspiration can help bridge gaps of political divide and mistrust into a true global AI governance framework. In essence, the foundation of common humanity should be channeled into these global initiatives, Dr. Nelson believed. A desire for a common global framework is no less what one expects from a scientist.
These technologies do not inherently drive themselves toward an ethical or moral direction, but effective tech public policy and governmental guidance have the potential to enhance livelihood. In an era where the debate is dominated and polarized by opinions of AI doomerism and accelerationism, Dr. Nelson frames a third way: the synthesis to guide these technological and AI developments toward moral and ethical outcomes for society. One should not have to fear new technologies or AI, but civil society and government still need to mitigate their harms, for that could have disastrous consequences as well on the public and democracy. I recall a short exchange we had towards the end of our conversation:
MN: “From technology and science policy comes progress.“
AN: “Yes, sometimes.”
MN: “Hopefully, most of the time, that’s where we try to get.”
AN: “That’s where we’re at, got to go at. That’s what policy does, right? They steer towards this direction rather than that direction.”
After all, science and technology policies affect everything.
BGF Chief Editor Minh Nguyen and Dr. Alondra Nelson
by Admin | Mar 8, 2024 | News
1. Board of Organizers
1.1. About Boston Global Forum and AIWS
The Boston Global Forum (BGF), founded in 2012, is a visionary think tank dedicated to addressing global challenges through collaborative efforts of thought leaders from diverse sectors, including government, private enterprises, academia, and civil society organizations, through a wide array of events and discussions. Over the past 11 years, BGF has been focused on promoting responsible behaviors of individuals, governments, and businesses in the digital age. The forum’s invaluable insights and recommendations have been shared with governments and international organizations such as the G7, G20, USA, EU, Japan, and India. Read more
In 2017, the Boston Global Forum introduced the AI World Society (AIWS). AIWS is initiated to advance AI technologies that align with human values, ensuring that AI serves the betterment, efficiency, and acceleration of humanity. It encompasses a framework of values, concepts, ideas, and standards aimed at fostering the peaceful development of AI for the benefit of all humankind and enhancing the realm of politics and society through AI. This ecosystem functions as a collaborative platform that not only rewards innovators and users of these technologies but also stimulates widespread innovation, dismantling traditional hierarchies that have historically been perpetuated. Read more
1.2. Vietnam Institute of Technology and Society Research (VITASR)
The Vietnam Institute of Technology and Society Research (VITASR) is the host organization of the AIWS Fellowship Program for the academic year 2024 in Asia. VITASR, established on June 24, 2023, is the first institute in Vietnam pioneering research on the interaction between Science, Technology, and Society (STS). VITASR aims to: (1) Conduct research, explore, and analyze the interaction and mutual influence between Science, Technology, and Society; and (2) Develop solutions to support and accelerate the digital transformation process of Governments and businesses. Read more
2. About the AIWS Fellowship Program
2.1. Introduction
The Board of Organizers is excited to announce our fellowship program, which is designed to attract exceptional talent in the fields of AI research and communication. This program offers a unique opportunity for youth to contribute to BGF and our initiatives including AIWS City and AIWS Angel – two initiatives founded on the principle of AI World Society (AIWS).
About AIWS City
On August 21, 2020, the concept of AIWS City was officially introduced during the United Nations Centennial Roundtable, a collaborative effort between the United Nations Academic Impact and the Boston Global Forum to commemorate the first century of the United Nations. AIWS City is a virtual digital city that brings together the cultural, historical, creative, innovative, and artistic values of humanity enabled by AI and blockchain. One noteworthy aspect of AIWS City is the integration of AI Assistants from the outset to simplify and enhance the daily lives of city residents by providing citizens with quick access to information, automating laborious tasks, and offering valuable insights in real time. Read more
About AIWS Angel
In 2024, introduced by BGF, AIWS Angel is an AI Assistant that transforms the way humans interact with technology in alignment with the principles of the AIWS Natural AI initiative. With its core components encompassing the Human Brain, Spiritual Values, Physical Computing, Interactive Interfaces linking the human brain and physical computing, and a sophisticated Display, AIWS Angel represents innovation with ethical design. It embodies a forward-thinking approach to AI-driven technology, aiming to empower users while nurturing a harmonious and ethical relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence.
Specifically, the AIWS Fellowship Program is organized in 2 rounds per year, each lasting 06 months with an average of 20 Doctoral/Master students and undergraduate students selected. The fellows are divided into two groups: Research Fellows and Communications Fellows to carry out research, reporting, analysis, communications, and event organization within the framework of BGF’s initiatives
Research Fellows
Research Fellows are tasked with activities to support the development of AIWS City or AIWS Angel by conducting research in one of the four key areas: Human Brain Simulation, Human Brain Machine Interface, Computing Systems, and Leadership in AI.
AIWS Angel
Human Brain Simulation: Undertake rigorous studies in brain science and neural cells to formulate computational models replicating the intricate structure, functions, and decision-making mechanisms of the human brain. The research aims to uncover the underlying principles of human cognition and facilitate the development of advanced AI systems capable of exhibiting human-like intelligence.
Human Brain Machine Interface (HBMI): Investigate the nexus between cognition, decision-making, and motor actions to engineer technologies proficient in interpreting and responding to real-time human brain signals. This line of inquiry holds immense potential for pioneering advancements, including cutting-edge prosthetics and brain-computer interfaces, revolutionizing the landscape of human-machine interaction.
Computing Systems: Undertake systematic data collection, processing, and organization to create a foundational chatbot with open-source code, laying the groundwork for AIWS Angel’s development. This chatbot will serve as an initial stage for the future development of AIWS Angel, which requires sophisticated computing systems to process and analyze data in real-time.
AIWS City
Leadership in AI: Engage in comprehensive research to identify key leaders and influencers who have significantly contributed to the development of AIWS City, while also analyzing their roles in shaping pertinent AI and technology policies. The narratives and achievements of these individuals offer valuable insights into visionary strategies, strategic planning, and collaborative initiatives instrumental in establishing AIWS City.
Communications Fellows
Communications Fellows are tasked with media-related activities to support the development of BGF. Your responsibilities span event coordination, and online resources development such as crafting UX/UI design for the website, managing the website, and ensuring effective communication and dissemination of the program’s findings and insights with well-designed media materials.
2.2. Board of Advisors
As leading researchers and professors, the Board of Advisors’ goal is to guide the program and advise graduate students during the research process. Members of the Advisory Board are the Boards of Directors of Boston Global Forum, who play key roles in guiding the organization’s initiatives and activities, including
Governor Michael Dukakis
Chairman of The Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation
Democratic Party Nominee for President of the United States, 1988
Distinguished Professor J.D., Harvard University
Nguyen Anh Tuan
Co-Founder and Director of The Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation (MDI)
Co-Founder of the AIWS City (AIWS.city)
Thomas Patterson
Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press, Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University
Nazli Choucri
Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator and Director of a multi-disciplinary MIT-Harvard research project – Explorations in Cyber International Relations (ECIR)
President of the Scientific Advisory Committee for UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformation Program
Member of the European Academy of Sciences and the Council on Foreign Relations.
David Silbersweig
Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Harvard University
Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals.
Chairman of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Institute for the Neurosciences.
3. Opportunities and expectations
The specific expectations for individual participants in the fellows program will be unique to each scholar, with broad expectations outlined below.
3.1. Expectation
3.1.1. Research Fellows
Human Brain Simulation
- Develop accurate and detailed computational models of the human brain that provide insights into its structure, function, and decision-making processes.
- Identify potential applications of brain simulation research in the development of human-like AI assistants and contribute to the integration of these findings into AIWS Angel.
Human Brain Machine Interface
- Design and prototype technologies that can effectively interpret and respond to human brain signals in real-time.
- Collaborate with the Computing Systems team to ensure the seamless integration of HBMI technologies into AIWS Angel.
Computing Systems
- Collect relevant data from various sources to train and inform your chatbot. This may include text data from websites, books, or other resources that align with the principles of the AIWS Natural AI initiative.
- Utilize open-source components, particularly those from chatGPT, to create a basic chatbot that can engage in simple conversations and provide information based on the cleaned data.
Leadership in AI
- Gather information about notable leaders and individuals who have contributed to the development of AIWS City.
- Create and produce engaging content, including articles, blog posts, and social media updates, to promote AIWS City and its initiatives.
3.1.2. Communications Fellows
- Plan, organize, and execute various events aligned with the objectives of BGF including seminars, workshops, conferences, and other gatherings.
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive online presence, which may include designing and managing a dedicated website, and crafting engaging content for social media platforms
- Ensure that the outcomes of Boston Global Forum reach a wide and diverse audience by developing strategies for disseminating research findings through various channels.
- Enhance the user experience and interface design of digital platforms (UX/UI) associated with Boston Global Forum.
3.2. Opportunities & Benefits
Opportunities
The AIWS Fellowship is a dynamic environment where your contributions directly translate into professional growth and career advancement opportunities. Specifically, your contributions or achievements can earn you a number of AIWS credits. The more you contribute, the more AIWS credits you earn. Eventually, these AIWS credits can be exchanged into opportunities, including (not limited to):
- Publications mentorship: Fellows will benefit from dedicated mentorship support to guide them in writing and publishing academic articles.
- Networking events: Fellows will gain access to a prestigious and influential network of fellows, potentially opening doors to future collaborations, job opportunities, and career advancement.
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- Internship opportunities: Fellows will benefit from internship opportunities in partnership organizations or enterprises partnering with BGF from Sillicon Valley.
- Fellowship certification: Fellows will earn the internship certification from BGF.
- Reference letter: Fellows will receive reference letters from prestigious Harvard, and MIT professors who are project leaders in the AIWS Programs.
Benefits
To support fellows in their professional growth, the program offers a suite of benefits, including (not limited to):
- Recognition: Fellows will receive acknowledgment for their contributions by being named in working papers published by Boston Global Forum.
- Workspace: To foster productivity and collaboration, fellows will be provided virtual Google office spaces for coworking and flexible use including Google email, Google Drive, etc.
- Knowledge access: All fellows receive access to extensive libraries and research facilities through the BGF network.
4. Eligibility, Vacancy, and Qualifications
The AIWS Fellowship invites applications from youth ages 18-25 who have demonstrated early experience, strong interest, and clear motivation to contribute to the program’s mission.
4.1. Research Fellow
We accept applications from undergraduate, and graduate students under 30 who are passionate about conducting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of technology and society. Whether you are an ambitious undergraduate looking to get a headstart on research or a seasoned Ph.D. candidate keen to take your work in bold new directions, we welcome you to apply. Your level of education will only partly determine selection – we look for intellectual curiosity, creative thinking, and a genuine drive to grapple with the societal impacts of emerging science and technology.
Vacancy for Research Fellow
- Human Brain Simulation (1 vacancy)
- Human Brain Machine Interface (1 vacancy)
- Computing Systems (8 vacancies)
- Leadership in AI (5 vacancies)
4.2. Communication Fellow
We seek creative, strategic students to join our team as Communications Fellows responsible for effectively conveying the societal value of our initiatives to diverse global audiences. If you have proven skills in science communication, journalism, public relations, marketing, social media engagement, and event management, we want to hear from you.
Vacancy for Communication Fellow (5 vacancies)
5. Logistics and administration
5.1. Time commitment
The AIWS Fellowship Program is organized in 2 rounds per year, each lasting 06 months. By that, the AIWS Fellowship Program 2024 starts from 1/4/2024 – 1/10/2024. During the fellowship program, fellows are expected to be free of the majority of their regular commitments so that they may fully devote themselves to the work outlined in their application.
5.2.Location: 100% remote.
6. Application Process
6.1. Application Rounds
The fellowship program application process consists of two rounds, with interviews conducted on a rolling basis.
Early application round: March 8, 2024 – March 14, 2024
- Candidates who submit their applications during this period will receive priority consideration.
- Interviews will be scheduled within two days of application receipt, enabling a more expedited decision-making process.
Regular application round: March 14, 2024 – March 21, 2024
- Applications submitted during this period will be considered following the conclusion of the Early Application Round.
- Interviews will be scheduled after the application deadline, and candidates will receive notification of their interview dates accordingly.
6.1. Application Steps
Step 1: Application
Applications will be submitted online through LINK
PDF attachments you will be required to upload including the following
- Current resume or C.V.: Showcase your professional and academic background clearly and concisely. Highlight relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that demonstrate your qualifications for the chosen fellowship track (Research Fellow or Communications Fellow).
- Recommendation letter: Provide one letter of recommendation from individuals familiar with your work and qualifications. Ideally, these should be academics, supervisors, or colleagues who can speak to your potential for impactful contributions within the AIWS program.
- Writing Sample or Essay (750-1000 words in English): Choose one of the following options:
- Option 1: Share a piece of your original writing that best demonstrates your research, writing, and analytical skills. This could be a published academic paper, blog post, book excerpt, or another relevant written work. Remember, originality and freedom from plagiarism are essential.
- Option 2: Write an essay on one of the following topics:
- a) The impact of artificial intelligence on the future job market.
- b) The importance of establishing ethical principles in AI development.
Your essay should demonstrate your ability to research, analyze, and present ideas clearly and coherently. Originality and freedom from plagiarism are essential.
- Portfolio (ONLY FOR COMMUNICATION FELLOW): Share a Portfolio that best demonstrates communication skills, which may showcase your ability in event coordination, online resources development such as crafting UX/UI design, content writing, journalism, etc.
- Motivation statement: Clearly articulate your reasons for applying to the AIWS Fellowship. Explain how your goals align with the program’s objectives and how you envision your contributions to the diverse AIWS community. Be specific and passionate about your motivations for joining this enriching journey.
Step 2: Interview
Following the initial application review, selected candidates will proceed to the interview stage. The interview aims to delve deeper into your qualifications, experiences, and motivations. Details of this round will be announced to candidates through email.
We appreciate your interest in the AIWS Fellowship program and look forward to receiving your applications!
- Contact
Contact: [email protected]
Application Booklet: https://shorturl.at/hKRS4
by Admin | Apr 21, 2022 | Executive Board
Philippe Le Corre is a nonresident senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He specializes in China’s global rise, China’s relations with Europe and Eurasia, competition in the Asia-Pacific region, and Chinese foreign direct investments. Le Corre is also a senior fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, an affiliate with the Program on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at Harvard’s Belfer Center and an associate in research with Harvard’s Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. From 2014 to 2017, he was a visiting fellow in the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution.
His career spans government, academia, media, and business. He has served as a special assistant for international affairs to the French defense minister, and as a senior policy adviser on Asia within the French Ministry of Defense’s directorate for international relations and strategy. In the private sector, Le Corre worked as a partner with Publicis Consultants in Paris and Shanghai, where he ran a team of advisers to the Shanghai World Expo 2010 Organizing Committee. He previously worked in Asia as a foreign correspondent for nine years, and has published extensively on the region in Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, South China Morning Post, Straits Times, Politico, National Interest, Le Monde, Les Echos, Nikkei Asian Review, Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs, among others. In 2018, he testified in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on the topic of Chinese investment and influence in Europe.
He is the author of several books including China’s Offensive in Europe (Brookings Institution Press, 2016), Quand la Chine va au marché (Maxima, 1999) and Après Hong Kong (Autrement, 1997). He has published various papers on China including “China’s Rise: What About a Transatlantic Dialog?” (Asia-Europe Journal, April 2017, co-authored with Jonathan Pollack) and “China Abroad: The Long March to Europe” (China Economic Quarterly, June 2016). His latest paper, “China’s Rise as Geoeconomic Influencer: Four European Case Studies”, is published by Carnegie.
Le Corre received his MSc in Asian studies from the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations in Paris and his MA in political science from the Sorbonne. He was a fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard for which he was awarded a Sachs Scholarship for 2003-2004.
by Admin | Apr 21, 2022 | Executive Board
Visiting Professor of International and Public Affairs at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University.
Before joining Columbia University, Karlsson was the Director of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, and previously served as World Bank Vice President of External Affairs and United Nations Affairs, and as World Bank Country Director for Maghreb (region West and North Africa).
In his most recent post Karlsson was the Director of the Marseille Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) where he was responsible for coordinating the World Bank’s cooperation of the Mediterranean region.
As country director at the World Bank he was instrumental in the realization of modern coordinated partnership, from supporting Ghana’s development, growth and poverty reduction, to post-conflict reconstruction in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
As World Bank Vice President of External Affairs, Karlsson pursued strategic policy dialogue with the Bank’s partners and stakeholders. With the UN he worked on the Millennium Development Goals and he also led the World Bank’s engagement with civil society in debating globalization, as part of new UN cooperation.
Early in his career, Mats Karlsson worked at the Swedish Foreign Ministry as Chief Economist, he served as Foreign Policy Advisor to Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson’s Commission on Global Governance (1992-1994), as well as the Swedish State Secretary for international development cooperation (1994-1999). He began his career in development when he joined the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in 1983.
