There is a tendency to portray the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape as consisting of two bitter rivals – China and the United States. The remaining 80 percent of the world’s population, due to their lack of standard, research and other important factors, are allegedly followers without any agency.
The truth is more complicated. The emerging global AI order is neither unipolar nor stress-free. Instead, it is characterized by a series of middle powers that constrain their options and advance their interests against the status quo of major players on either side of the Pacific. That was my main launch point Hong Kong AI Governance International Conference.
In Association of Southeast Asian NationsMalaysia and Singapore are positioning themselves as important hubs for data centers and hardware manufacturing, partnering with industry leaders in China and the United States. Europe has moved forward in putting up guardrails against a very powerful young technology.
Despite geopolitical instability and concerns over water availability, the Gulf States have been gifted with developing big data-intensive language models and AI applications with a focus on energy, healthcare and education. India, France, South Korea and the UK have taken the opportunity to convene summits on international AI cooperation.
If Hong Kong is to remain relevant in an increasingly global environment, it must serve as a link for responsible AI governance for the majority of the world.
An obvious starting point would be Hong Kong’s legal system, which enjoys an international reputation and integration due to its common law foundation. Hong Kong can serve as Prime Minister center for mediation and arbitration for AI disputes, and sets standards for consumer rights and precedents for legal liability.
