27. November 2020, 8.50 - 11.30 Uhr  | Zoom

Session I: Is digital sovereignty a solution? Rethinking global interdependence in AI and critical data infrastructures

Not just since the trade conflict between the USA and China, technological interdependencies were problematized. The debate about technological interdependence has gained new momentum due the Covid-19 pandemic. Public voices increasingly question not only the dependence on foreign supply of medical goods but also the imports of various critical technologies in general. China's political discourse has long emphasized the importance of technological sovereignty in fields like artificial intelligence as a key factor in the country's long-term development. In western countries, calls to strengthen “digital sovereignty” and autonomy are multiplying and are now introduced to the fields of artificial intelligence too. But is the notion of "sovereignty" a practical solution for AI applications? The implications remain unclear. The danger of rising techno-nationalism and harmful societal side effects need careful consideration. The problem of sovereign claims, intensifying geopolitics and the resulting in digital fragmentation shapes the future AI innovations and the platform economy globally. Applying the discourse of sovereignty to the field of AI invites critical reflections both in Europe and Asia about the usefulness and limits of such terminology. This panel aims at inspiring a search for potentially better alternatives to shape technological future that is both inclusive and fair.

Session II: The Duality Dilemma of AI Technology
The rapid progress and development of AI is prompting speculation about the applications of AI and their impacts on society. On the one hand, numerous applications in health care, finance, communications, the arts, etc. have brought some of the most effective and dramatic advances for people. On the other hand, the frenzy of AI causes regulatory and ethical issues and could lead to major negative changes in society and liability. Such dual implications of AI applications and impacts has pushed us to balance between transparent and accountable AI and "opaque" AI, between "responsive" AI and "rogue" AI. This duality in the nature of AI brings about enormous challenges for legal systems and continuous debates on the relationship between technology and society. Panelists will discuss the implications and possible remedies to the duality of AI technology.