Atlantic Council GeoTech Center

The Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), recently co-hosted a transformative event titled “An Allied Approach in the Age of AI.” Over four panels, senior US government officials, foreign dignitaries and ambassadors, and private sector representatives convened to delve into the ethical implications, policy frameworks, and strategic initiatives necessary for responsible AI development. The discussions underscored the critical importance of collaboration in shaping the future of AI for global stability and innovation. Acting Senior Director Raul Brens Jr, PhD set the stage outlining the GeoTech’s mission to ensure emerging technologies can responsibly enter in to worldwide use, for public benefit, and provides policy makers with pragmatic approaches to mitigating the potential societal and geopolitical risks of technological change. The event opened with a fireside chat with Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe and AWS VP David Levy. Levy noted that AI is a generational technology requiring the public and private sectors work together to solve the intractable problems of our time.  Panel 1, moderated by Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, convened Ambassador Steve Lang, DMC, Alessandro Gonzales, DCM Koichi Ai, and DHOM James Roscoe, MVO to discuss national and multilateral AI efforts to advance responsible innovation. “The right questions,” panelists agreed “are as important as the right answers.” Panelists emphasized the responsibility of their national leaders to engage beyond developed countries, while working to tighten alliances to secure their competitiveness. Panel 2, featuring Avery Alpha, Paul Myler, and David Nelson, delved into the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in the security landscape. The panel emphasized that alliances are fundamentally about data sharing. The session was moderated by Atlantic Council VP for Strategy and Technology Programs Graham Brookie. During panel 3, panelists Matthew Graviss, Sunayna Tuteja, and Amir Bagherpour, PhD joined Ambassador Anthony Gardner on stage to discuss how governments can enhance responsible AI development through the adoption of technologies that prioritize safeguards and public welfare.  The fourth panel, moderated by Michael B. Greenwald, brought together Todd Johnston, Anjana Rajan, and Michael Sellitto to explore strategies and opportunities in AI that are critical to democratic processes. The panel proposed the following thought-provoking questions to the audience: How do we march together in the long haul? What kind of AI do we want?

In case you missed my latest piece for the Atlantic Council, I break down the Seoul Statement of Intent toward Cooperation on AI Safety Science, and what steps the various safety institutes should take to make tangible progress on shared AI safety goals. Atlantic Council GeoTech Center Check it out below ��� https://lnkd.in/enjrvQrx #artificialintelligence #aipolicy #aisafety #internationalcollaboration #aiseoulsummit

In May, ten countries and the EU met in South Korea to establish an international network of AI safety institutes. The Atlantic Council’s Courtney Lang outlines three specific objectives the network must focus on:

AI is an amazing tool! In the past few years, I’ve been delighted by algorithms tackling incredibly hard (and crucial) problems in biology and medicine, as well as by generative AI that helps me with everything from simulations to poetry to recipes to travel planning. I bet that you’ve been delighted by AI, too … and I bet that you have lots of questions about the shape of an AI-influenced future. But have you considered sustainability in AI development? Not using AI for sustainability, but the sustainability of training and deploying AI models? You should—because there are important things we can do today to foster an AI industry that designs for sustainable AI. The first step is in asking the right questions. Policymakers in particular are key to enabling AI that not only drives innovation but also safeguards our planet and future generations. How will we balance technological progress with sustainable development? That question is why I was excited to co-author this article, published by the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center. Here, our team explores the need for transparency in the AI lifecycle in terms of the resources being consumed during an AI initiative, the outputs being produced, and the broader impacts (both positive and negative) on human health, prosperity, and economic growth. 🔗 Link in comments to read the article. Check it out to gain insights from the founder of an AI company, an astronomer, an expert in risk & AI strategy, a deep tech research scientist—and me! Thank you Katie (Kathryn) Thomas, Anna Ferré-Mateu, PhD, Catherine Lopes (PhD GAICD), and Marissa Giustina for helping to support policymakers and changemakers to build the best possible future(s)! 🔁 Please help us share this article with your family, friends, and network to help more people and organizations build a sustainable future! #ai #sustainability #ethicaltechnology #policy

Under the leadership of David Levy, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center co-hosted an event today: “An Allied Approach in the Age of AI" alongside the AWS Summit in Washington, DC. The event convened senior US Government (USG) officials, allied nations’ diplomats, and private sector leaders to discuss best practices to shape the global future of responsible AI. The agenda covered a range of topics including forging effective public-private partnerships, aligning AI governance strategies with allies, debating opportunities and challenges in the age of AI innovation, and building responsible, resilient AI systems. Thank you to our dynamic speakers today who included: Embassy of Japan’s Deputy Chief of Mission Koichi Ai; British Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission James Roscoe, MVO; Italian Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Alessandro Gonzalez; Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security, Avery Alpha, Embassy of Australia’s Deputy Head of Mission Paul Myler; Chief Innovation and AI Officer at the Department of State Matthew Graviss; Federal Reserve System Chief Innovation Officer Sunayna Tuteja; Government and Public Services Managing Director at Deloitte Todd Johnston; Anthropic’s Head of Global Affairs Michael Sellitto, Anjana Rajan, Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, and Ambassador Anthony Gardner. Thank you to the Global Executive Relations team and AWS colleagues Alexandra Boarts, Claire Figel, Hana Davisson, Mark G. Arnone, Frances Lanzone, Jordan Wilson, Sarah Storelli, Marla Bradbury, Marshall Lauck, Michelle Spacciapolli, Jennifer Held, Doug Stone, Susan Buikema-Miller, Jennifer Kalka, Mary Beth Smarsh, Anna Braddock, Ann Bergamini, Rocco Gonzalez, Sasha Rubel, and Makenzie Delmotte for making the event possible today. A huge thanks also to our Atlantic Council Geotech Center colleagues Graham Brookie, Raul Brens Jr, PhD, Michael Berg, Ellie Creasey, and Stephanie Wander. https://lnkd.in/eYDfGjFy

If policymakers focus today on the sustainability of the AI industry, they will have the opportunity to steer entire industries toward contributing to a positive future for both people and the planet, write Tiffany Vora, Katie (Kathryn) Thomas, Anna Ferré-Mateu, PhD, Catherine Lopes (PhD GAICD), and Marissa Giustina. Read more. ⬇️

Are you a student or recent graduate interested in the intersection of geopolitics and emerging technology? The Atlantic Council GeoTech Center is hiring a Fall 2024 Young Global Professional! Apply by Friday, June 7 to join our team and become the bridge between science and policy! https://lnkd.in/e2RQKQEw

Excited to announce the formalization of Atlantic Council Technology Programs! Technology is an extraordinarily broad policy space, and we have programs that have built up diverse, crosscutting tech expertise, as well as shaped entirely new fields. We're bringing together the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), Cyber Statecraft Initiative, Democracy + Technology Initiative, Atlantic Council GeoTech Center, and a newly formed Capacity Building Initiative to work together and across our organization. As Fred Kempe lays out in this announcement, "Technology is at the forefront of nearly every defining opportunity – and challenge – of our time." Deeply thankful to Atlantic Council leadership (Jenna Ben-Yehuda, Julie Varghese, and many others), our ACtech leadership team (Nicholas Yap, Rose Jackson, Trey Herr, Safa Shahwan Edwards, Raul Brens Jr, PhD, Stephanie Wander, Andy Carvin, Emerson Brooking), our fellows, and -- most of all -- our team of over 70 experts around the world. https://lnkd.in/et5cz94b

Thank you Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center for inviting me as a Speaker on “Human Centered AI” Webinar.-https://lnkd.in/eymnWqUW AI Connect II is a vital initiative aimed at fostering responsible #AIstewardship. This initiative aligns with the OECD.AI Principles and aims to empower low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to engage effectively in global AI policy discussions. I answered the following critical questions: 1. How do we define human-centered AI, especially in promoting #genderequality and #accessibility for #marginalized communities? 2. What practical steps can organizations take to ensure their AI systems comply with #legal requirements and uphold human rights, particularly in regions with limited regulatory oversight? 3. How is the #industry collaborating with government agencies and other #stakeholders to develop guidelines and standards for human-centered AI design and development? Thank you to the AI Connect team for this incredible opportunity. Trisha R., Emily Sespico , Caroline Thompson, Atlantic Council SafeOnline Women Kenya (SOW-Kenya)

It’s not everyday I get to write about Latin American literature and magical realism, let alone discuss Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s masterpiece in an energy/climate commentary. In my latest blog with the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center, I explore the main discussion themes that emerged during the centenary World Energy Congress. From conventional energy systems to disruptive technologies, from existing infrastructure to AI, and from energy geopolitics to new climate finance mechanisms, a lot has happened over the last hundred years. A tribute to the godfather of magical realism!