AIWS Index

Boston, December 3, 2018

By Michael Dukakis, Nguyen Anh Tuan,

Thomas Patterson, Thomas Creely, Nazli Choucri, Paul Nemitz, Derek Reveron, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Eliot Weinman, and Kazuo Yano

Governments of large countries have significant influences over the development of the world. Therefore, the lack of consistency and consensus in concepts, values and systems as well as the lack of mutual trust and cooperation between governments would likely endanger humanity in the Artificial Intelligence era.

AI can be a useful tool for humanity, helping humans develop better and overcoming the weaknesses of existing political systems. Some political systems, though being shown with greater efficiency and better results, still possess limitations and shortcomings that need correction or examination. So what should be done to ensure cooperation between major governments given the conditions of uncertainty and complexity in the
AI ecosystem? In this case, a unified vision of building ethical AI is needed so that governments can use AI as an effective tool to create better political systems to the benefits of their citizens.

Concepts and principles to create standards needed to follow the ultimate goals: for the people, for the human race, for the civilization and happiness of humanity. There must be common standards for an AI society around the world, from technology, laws, conventions, etc. to guarantee the interoperability among different frameworks and approaches between countries. It is the openness among countries that create beliefs, which are based on unified values, laws and conventions, which cannot be explained in its own way nor can it be assumed that each country has its own particularity to deny respect for common standards. If we do not reach a common accord of respect for the norms, laws, and conventions in the AI world, there will be no sustainable peace and security for humanity in the future. That is also the core content for an AI Accord between governments that Governor Michael Dukakis told the Associated Press on August 9, 2018.

The AIWS Report about AI Ethics, therefore, proposes the model of Government AIWS Ethics and Practices Index and looks at the strategies, activities and progresses of major governments (including G7 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States and other influential countries such as Russia, China, India) in the field of AI.

The Report has three main parts:

Part I: Introduction to the AIWS Report about AI Ethics

Part II: Overview of Government AIWS Ethics and Practices Index

Part III: Announcement of the Government AIWS Ethics Index at AIWS Festival 2019

Appendix: The situation of G7, the European Union and major governments

⇒ Read full AIWS Report