SDSN Bangladesh Hosts a G20 Intl Conference on AI
On September 4, 2022, SDSN Bangladesh’s host institution, the Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and Governance (IPAG), organized a day-long G20 International Conference on “G20 and AI: Connecting the dotted lines between technology and humanity” in Bali, Indonesia – A T20 side-event. This event was supported by SDSN Indonesia’s Udayana University student volunteers. In attendance were a panel of experts in the field of technology, AI and economics, among others.
Following the opening remarks by Prof. Syed Munir Khasru (Chair, SDSN Bangladesh, Chairman, IPAG, and Co-chair of Task Force 2 & 9, G20 Indonesia), the first session was moderated by Dr. Venkatachalam Anbumozhi (Director of Research Strategy and Innovation, ERIA). The keynote presentation by Prof. Dr. Dennis J. Snower (Founder and President, Global Solutions Initiative) looked into the application of AI, concerning its impacts on our privacy, employment, and social coherence. The presentation was followed up by discussions from panelists Dr. Jatna Supriatna (Professor, Department of Biology Faculty, University of Indonesia Chairman, SDSN Indonesia), Dr. Josua Sitompul (Coordinator of legal and cooperation Ministry of Communication and Information Technology), and Meidy Fitranto (Co-Founder & CEO, Nodeflux), delving into the personal and legal implications of AI.
Discussions revolving around recent events on the development and implementation of AI were central to the second session, moderated by Prof. Fukunari Kimura (Chief Economist of ERIA) with panelists Dr. Marisa Henderson (Chief of the Trade and Creative Economy Section, UNCTAD), Yossi Matias (VP Engineering & Research, Google), Mr. Abdy Taminsyah (CEO and Founder, Monsoon SIM, Western Australia, Australia) and Mr. Rubayat E Shams Anik (Senior Research Associate, IPAG Asia Pacific and Co-Network Manager, SDSN Bangladesh). “Change is coming, and we have to adapt” was the motto behind Prof. Dr. Suhono Harso Supangkat’s keynote speech (Lead Chair of Task Force 2, G20 Indonesia & Head of Smart City and Community Innovation Center, Bandung Institute of Technology) as he explained how society was rapidly moving towards the inevitable penetration of AI, and the required roadmap for embracing AI.
In the third session, moderated by Makshudul Alam Mondal (Senior Research Associate, IPAG), Keynote Presenter Nadeem Anjum (Head of Notifications AI for Facebook Growth, Meta AI, Facebook), brought to light the importance of introducing ethics and proper regulations in the development of AI. The inter Panel Discussions probed by Mohan Belani (CEO, E27), Akash Mittal (Director, AISA), and Arif Perdana(Associate Professor, Data Science, Monash University, Indonesia) further emphasized the “double-edged sword” nature of AI and the potential regulatory changes that can bring about a significant positive impact in developing countries.
The final session was moderated by Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi (Director General, Research, and Information System (RIS), New Delhi, India). Prof. Bambang Brodjonegoro (Lead Chair Task Force 9, G20 Indonesia & Former Minister of Research and Technology, Indonesia) gave a keynote speech on the overall advancement of AI in the last 5 years and the diminishing barriers that followed. Dr. Ir. Lukas (Chairman, IAIS) and Prof. Toshio obi (Professor Emeritus, Waseda University) shed light on the potential of utilizing Big Data/ Information security and BlockChain technology. Dr. Cyn-Young Park (Director for Regional Cooperation and Integration, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB) concluded the session by chalking out the list of potential shifts AI can bring in ensuring work-life balance.
Towards the end of the conference, the volunteers from Udayana University were awarded a certificate byProfessor Toshio Obi (Professor Emeritus of Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan) and Dr. Ir. Lukas(Chairman, Indonesian Artificial Intelligence Society) - on behalf of SDSN Bangladesh.
