The AI and Global Governance programme is the newest addition to GGI’s existing suite of cutting-edge training and research programmes, that aims to address the critical challenges posed by emerging technologies – particularly artificial intelligence – and their impact on global governance. Our mission is to provide valuable insights and policy recommendations to navigate the complex landscape of AI in the context of international relations and global governance.
AIGG will centre its efforts on three key research priorities:
EU-based AI Regulatory and Ethical Frameworks, where we will explore the evolving AI regulatory and ethical frameworks within the European Union and examine the impact of these frameworks on AI development, deployment, and cross-border cooperation.
AI and International Security/International Law, where we will investigate the implications of AI on international security, including cyber threats and military applications, and examine the intersection of AI and international law, particularly in the context of autonomous systems.
AI and Digital Authoritarianism, where we will study the role of AI in society and the rise of the threat of digital authoritarianism, including surveillance technologies and information control, as well as analyse the impact of AI on human rights and democratic institutions in authoritarian regimes.We are committed to delivering high-quality research through analyses, regular commentaries, policy briefs, and annual reports, as well as to fostering meaningful dialogue through conferences and workshops.
The AI and Global Governance Programme’s flagship "IR in the Age of AI" podcast, an already established platform for discussions at the intersection of international relations and artificial intelligence, will continue to amplify the latest research findings by translating complex academic concepts into accessible content for policymakers, scholars, and the wider public.
Finally, with the launch of a new Summer School on AI and Global Governance, in collaboration with distinguished professionals, international scholars, and researchers from Europe, the United States, and Japan, AIGG will provide individuals and organisations with the knowledge, skills, and practical understanding necessary to address the intricate issues surrounding global governance and AI.
For more information, please contact:
Medlir Mema Ph.D
Head of Programme
Email: m.mema@globalgovernance.eu
Publications
In a historic first, the European Parliament approved on March 13, 2024, the Artificial Intelligence Act. The vote is one of the final steps before a process - that started more than three years ago with the European Commission’s April 2021 proposal - is brought to an end by May or June of this year. Adopting a risk-based approach, which according to EU officials ensures the future proofing of the legislation, the EU AI Act has the potential to become an important AI governance model. That is both good and bad news.
The Council of Europe’s draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, aims to become a “first-of-a-kind treaty” according to an announcement that marked the finalization of the convention’s draft text. This effort to conclude a multilateral treaty on AI aspires to set global standards for artificial intelligence that are consistent with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
Misinformation and disinformation have become this year’s buzzwords as voters in over 40 countries head to the voting booths in 2024 along with dozens more scheduled to be held in 2025. Not everyone shares the concern or the outlook, but there is no doubt that the next two years will be decisive for the future of democracy and societies around the world.
Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine is increasingly acknowledged to be the first artificial intelligence war. To be sure, emerging technologies have played an important role in this war, and the information front is certainly no exception. Yet, our understanding of artificial intelligence in information operations remains limited because scholarship often narrowly focuses on AI’s role in corrupting the information space as opposed to defending the information space from corruption. This commentary will therefore highlight what we can learn from Ukraine about how to utilise AI in the fight back against an aggressor.
Emerging technology is a ubiquitous term in common usage among those seeking to make sense of a rapidly evolving global strategic environment in part because it can be understood as capturing both the promise and peril of fast paced technological advancements in the fields of artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
After years of meticulous development and negotiations, the EU’s AI Act appeared finally set for passage by December 2023–at least until France and Germany vocalized their objections to the EU regulating general purpose models (i.e. models that have a broad set of functions such as OpenAI’s GPT–4).
S7E8: Misinformation and Disinformation in the age of AI with Lukas Andriukaitis
Medlir asks Lukas Andriukaitis, Board member of Lithuania-based Civic Resilience Initiative (CRI), what it means to work and live at the frontier of the new misinformation / disinformation space. They discuss the current atmosphere in the region and beyond, in terms of threat of misinformation/disinformation. They consider both the benefits and the drawbacks of AI-enabled technologies as billions across the world prepare to cast their votes in 2024.
S7E7: The EU AI Act with Luca Bertuzzi
Luca Bertuzzi joins Medlir for a discussion on the EU AI Act passed by the European Parliament on March 13th. Among other things, they discuss the likely impact of the law on innovation and governance within the EU and abroad, as well as criticisms that the act fails to address concerns regarding human rights and civil liberties.
S7E6: The Politics and Governance of Big Data and AI with Andrej Zwitter and Oskar Gstrein
Andrej Zwitter and Oskar Gstrein share with Chris what they will be keeping an eye out for in the AI regulatory space in 2024. They also discuss their latest work on the politics and governance of big data and artificial intelligence and their newly published Handbook on the Governance Politics and Governance of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. In this discussion Andrej and Oskar explore the EU AI Act and challenges that datafication and algorithmic logics pose for governance, privacy, and human agency, and ponder the question: what does it mean to stay human in the age of AI?
S7E5: AI and Military Technologies with Raluca Csernatoni and Marijn Hoijtink
Medlir sits down with Dr. Raluca Csernatoni and Dr. Marijn Hoijtink to discuss the escalating ‘innovation race’ among corporate giants. They discuss AI’s contribution to the rise in power of the private tech sector vs. the state, as well as the ‘existential threat’ and ‘superintelligence’ narratives around foundational AI models and how these shape specific socio-technical imaginaries of the future. They also dive into AI’s impact on geopolitical and military power, including Sino-American competition, and the rise of AI ‘nationalism’ or ‘sovereignty’.
S7E3: The Birth of Digital Human Rights with Rebekah Dowd
This week Medlir and our guest Rebekah Dowd, an academic, scholar, and author of The Birth of Digital Human Rights: Digitized Data Governance as a Human Rights Issue in the EU, explore how and why the EU became a leader in the realm of digital human rights.
S7E2: AI, Digital Humanities and Virtual Memory Spaces with Arnaud Kurze
In this episode Chris talks to Arnaud Kurze of Montclair State University, currently a Digital Studies Fellow at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. Arnaud has carried out groundbreaking research in digital humanities, memory studies, and transitional justice and offers his insights into AI and virtual memory spaces, accountability.
S7E1: Introducing AI Global Governance with Joachim Koops
Medlir and Chris speak with Dr. Joachim Koops of the Global Governance Institute and Leiden University to discuss the launch of the AI Global Governance program. They further discuss the challenges associated with the question of governance more broadly.
