Here at Newsflash Online, we know that artificial intelligence (AI) is being seen as both an opportunity and a challenge all over the world. Singapore is often at the forefront of tech innovations, and now the city-state has announced Asia’s first AI governance framework.
Announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, this model framework is intended to help businesses and other organisations address some of the ethical and governance-related issues posed by the increasing use of AI technology.
Speaking at the WEF, Singapore’s minister for communications and information S. Iswaran said: ‘By announcing the model framework in Davos, we have the opportunity to both underscore Singapore’s continued role in that context, as well as invite global feedback on what we are doing.’
He added that Singapore had ‘a certain mindshare’ that allowed it to collaborate with industry on future developments and innovations, as well as contributing to the development and governance of policies in that area.
Framework built around two guiding principles
The framework builds on recommendations published last year in a discussion paper from Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The details of the framework are guided by two general principles. Firstly, all AI implementations should be human-centric. Secondly, any decisions made wholly by AI or assisted by AI should be transparent, explainable and fair to consumers.
Iswaran said that other countries, including the US and Japan, could be interested in adopting the Singaporean framework, noting that the country was seen as an open, business-friendly community that supports rule-based trading and markets.
‘Therefore, when we propose some of these ideas, they tend to be seen in that context,’ he added.
Businesses could be attracted by the framework
Iswaran said that the framework had been developed in conjunction with industry and was unlikely to deter businesses from setting up or operating in Singapore.
‘On the contrary, I would say that we might even be able to come out as one of the jurisdictions with sound approaches to data management and the governance of AI, and other frontier technologies. In this case, more companies would want to be associated with us,’ he said.
The IMDA and the WEF will discuss the framework in greater detail moving forward, as well as helping to facilitate its implementation.
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