This open access book offers a strategic perspective on AI and the process of embedding it in society. After decades of research, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now entering society at large. Due to its general purpose character, AI will change society in multiple, fundamental and unpredictable ways. Therefore, the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) characterizes AI as a system technology: a rare type of technologies that have a systemic impact on society. Earlier system technologies include electricity, the combustion engine and the computer. The history of these technologies provides us with useful insights about what it takes to direct the introduction of AI in society. The WRR identifies five key tasks to structurally work on this process: demystification, contextualisation, engagement, regulation and positioning. By clarifying what AI is (demystification), creating a functional ecosystem (contextualisation), involving diverse stakeholders (engagement), developing directive frameworks (regulation) and engaging internationally (positioning), societies can meaningfully influence how AI settles. Collectively, these activities steer the process of co-development between technology and society, and each representing a different path to safeguard public values. Mission AI - The New System Technology was originally published as an advisory report for the government of the Netherlands. The strategic analysis and the outlined recommendations are, however, relevant to every government and organization that aims to take up 'misson AI' and embed this newest system technology in our world.
Author(s): Haroon Sheikh, Corien Prins, Erik Schrijvers
Series: Research for Policy
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 420
City: Cham
Persons Consulted
Preface
Contents
About the Authors
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 AI at a Turning Point
1.2 AI Leaves the Lab and Enters Society
1.3 Technology and Public Values
1.4 A Historical Perspective
1.5 Overarching Tasks for the Societal Integration of AI
1.6 The Five Tasks
1.7 Structure of the Report
References
Part I: Building Blocks: Introducing and Interpreting AI as a New System Technology, Similar to Electricity and the Internal Combustion Engine
Chapter 2: Artificial Intelligence: Definition and Background
2.1 Definitions of AI
2.2 AI Prior to the Lab
2.2.1 The Mythical Representation of AI
2.2.2 Speculation About Thinking Machines
2.2.3 The Theory of AI
2.3 AI in the Lab
2.3.1 The First Wave
2.3.2 Two Approaches
2.3.3 The Second Wave
2.3.4 The Third Wave
References
Chapter 3: AI Is Leaving the Lab and Entering Society
3.1 Momentum from Lab to Society
3.1.1 Scientific Activity
3.1.2 Practical Potential
3.1.3 Rising Investment: AI Is Becoming a Business
3.1.4 Economic and Employment Impact
3.1.5 Governments Are Also Focusing on AI
3.2 The Practical Application of AI
3.2.1 Machine Learning
3.2.2 Computer Vision
3.2.3 Natural Language Processing
3.2.4 Speech Recognition
3.2.5 Robotics
3.3 AI as a Phenomenon in Society
3.3.1 Interest in AI as a Revolutionary Technology
3.3.2 Applied Research and the Run on Talent
3.3.3 AI Action Plans
3.3.4 Interest in the Practical Effects of AI
3.3.5 Social Organizations Become Involved
3.3.6 Sectoral Interest in AI
3.3.7 The Dark Side of AI
3.3.8 On the Policy Agenda
3.3.9 Ethics
3.3.10 Interest in the Societal Integration of AI
3.4 The Future of the Lab
3.4.1 The Need for Fundamental Research
3.4.2 Superficial and Inefficient
3.4.3 Common Sense
3.4.4 Lack of Transparency
3.4.5 Old and New Approaches
3.4.6 The Lab Belongs with AI
References
Chapter 4: AI as a System Technology
4.1 Classification of Technologies
4.1.1 General-Purpose Technologies
4.1.2 AI as a GPT
4.1.3 AI as a System Technology
4.1.4 Similarities and Differences Between AI and Earlier System Technologies
4.1.5 The Techno-Economic Paradigm of AI
4.2 The Societal Integration of System Technologies
4.2.1 Co-evolution of Society and Technology
4.2.2 Unpredictable Development and Impact
4.2.3 Impact on Civic Values
4.2.4 Regulation and Success Are Not Mutually Incompatible
4.3 Overarching Task 1: Demystification
4.3.1 Unrealistic Expectations
4.3.2 Serious Concerns
4.4 Overarching Task 2: Contextualization
4.4.1 The Technological Ecosystem: Supporting Technologies
4.4.2 The Technological Ecosystem: Emergent Technologies
4.4.3 Enveloping
4.4.4 The Social Ecosystem: Macroeconomic Context
4.4.5 The Social Ecosystem: Behavioural Context
4.5 Overarching Task 3: Engagement
4.5.1 Values, Interests and Ideals
4.5.2 A Spectrum of Engagement
4.5.3 Winners and Losers
4.5.4 Demand for Regulation
4.5.5 Defending Public Interests
4.6 Overarching Task 4: Regulation
4.6.1 The Collingridge Dilemma
4.6.2 Concentration of Power
4.6.3 New Legislation and Regulations
4.6.4 Diverse and Flexible Instruments
4.6.5 Oversight
4.6.6 A Growing Role for Government
4.7 Overarching Task 5: Positioning
4.7.1 Economic Competitiveness
4.7.2 Military Relations
4.7.3 Attempts at Nationalization
4.7.4 The Importance of International Co-Operation
References
Part II: Five Tasks: Discussion of the Tasks for Embedding AI Into Society
Chapter 5: Demystification
5.1 Behind the Myths About AI
5.1.1 Utopia and Dystopia
5.1.2 Public Events
5.1.3 The Power of Words
5.2 Contemporary Myths About AI
5.2.1 Myths About How AI Operates
5.2.1.1 Artificial Intelligence Is Neutral
5.2.1.2 Artificial Intelligence Is More Rational Than the Human Mind
5.2.1.3 Artificial Intelligence Is a Black Box
5.2.2 Myths About the Impact of AI
5.2.2.1 Artificial Intelligence Will Soon Equal Humans
5.2.2.2 Malign Artificial Intelligence Could Turn Against Humans
5.2.3 Generic Myths About Digital Technology
5.2.3.1 Technology Should Be Regulated as Little as Possible
5.2.3.2 There Is No Alternative (TINA)
5.2.3.3 Technology Is the Solution to All Society’s Problems
5.3 In Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: Contextualization
6.1 The Technical Ecosystem
6.1.1 Supporting Technology
6.1.2 Technology in an Envelope
6.1.3 Emergent Technologies
6.2 The Social Ecosystem
6.2.1 The Macroeconomic Context
6.2.2 The Behavioural Context
6.3 In Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: Engagement
7.1 Resistance
7.1.1 Fight: Violent Resistance
7.1.2 Walkout: Refuse to Co-operate
7.1.3 Protest: Campaigning for a Ban
7.2 Monitoring
7.2.1 Supervision: Reporting Malpractices
7.2.2 Agenda-Setting: Information About the Importance of AI
7.3 Co-operation
7.3.1 Improving: Knowledge of Good Practice
7.3.2 Appropriating: Diversity in Goals and Interests
7.4 In Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Regulation
8.1 Government Standardization of AI
8.1.1 Specific or Generic Policy?
8.1.2 Technology-Specific and Technology-Neutral Rules
8.1.3 Framework Levels
8.1.4 Actors and How They Exert Control
8.2 AI Regulation and the Digital Living Environment
8.2.1 Uncertainty
8.2.2 Timing of Government Interventions
8.2.3 The Guiding Effect of Technology
8.2.4 A Legislative Agenda for the Digital Living Environment
8.2.5 Three Developments That Influence the Embedding of AI
8.2.6 Surveillance
8.2.7 Imbalance
8.2.8 Concentration of Power
8.3 In Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: International Positioning
9.1 AI and Competitive Advantages
9.1.1 AI Capacities
9.1.2 National AI Strategies
9.1.3 An International AI Race?
9.1.4 From Competition to Co-operation
9.2 AI and National Security
9.2.1 Autonomous Weapons
9.2.2 Other Military Applications
9.2.3 Security Beyond the Battlefield
9.2.4 Digital Dictatorship
9.2.5 Case Study: Digital Dictatorship in China
9.2.6 Case Study: Digital Dictatorship in Russia
9.3 In Conclusion
References
Part III: Agenda: Conclusions and Recommendations for AI Policy in the Netherlands
Chapter 10: Policy for AI as a System Technology
10.1 Five Tasks as Lessons from the Past
10.1.1 Task 1: Demystification
10.1.2 Task 2: Contextualization
10.1.3 Task 3: Engagement
10.1.4 Task 4: Regulation
10.1.5 Task 5: Positioning
10.1.6 Five Tasks, Five Transitions
10.1.7 A Broad Agenda for AI
10.2 Transition 1: From Fiction to Facts
10.3 Transition 2: From Abstraction to Application
10.4 Transition 3: From Monologue to Dialogue
10.5 Transition 4: From Reaction to Action
10.6 Transition 5: From Nation to Network
10.7 From Instruments to a Policy Infrastructure
10.8 In Conclusion – The Internal Combustion Engine of the Twenty-First Century
References
Appendix: Examples of AI Applications in the Netherlands
Glossary
Bibliography
