Artificial Intelligence: a new frontier for public policy

ONLINE AND IN-PERSON PUBLIC EVENT (MAR.2.04, MARSHALL BUILDING)

Timezone: GMT

Join us for this ‘policy-in-practice’ seminar and panel discussion, to understand the growing influence of AI in public policy globally. The session will explore the opportunities and challenges policymakers encounter as they navigate the new and rapidly evolving policy landscape in the face of AI.

The advent of artificial intelligence encourages a compelling reimagination of the future of public policy and is already influencing how governments make decisions. From healthcare to transportation and beyond, AI makes it possible to generate unparalleled insights into complex scenarios and holds great potential for use by policymakers in supporting transformative reforms. AI also plays a crucial role in process automation, allowing policymakers to focus on strategic objectives instead, and on monitoring policy implementation more efficiently.

However, AI as a data-driven science is not without faults. Issues around transparency in decision-making borne from machine learning, political and ethical biases in the creation of relevant algorithms, and the risk that a lack of diversity in the sector and sources of knowledge may exacerbate discrimination and prejudice are only some of the pressing challenges that need to be carefully considered before AI can be further integrated into policymaking. Some of the important questions to contend with include the extent to which human determination and agency remains at the centre of AI development and deployment.

In light of such considerations, in November 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence was adopted by acclamation by all 193 UNESCO Member States. The Recommendation is a first-of-its-kind global normative benchmark that provides guidance to Member States and other AI actors on how to govern relevant domains through articulating values and principles key to ensuring ethical AI, as well as making concrete policy recommendations.

It is in this world of rapid and overwhelming technological change, that LSE has recently launched an MPA in Data Science for Public Policy, which is a two-year degree programme designed to equip professionals with core quantitative technical and analytical tools to address current policy challenges.

Meet our Speakers and Chair

Frank Muci (@frankmuci) is a Policy Fellow at the Growth Lab Research Collaboration at LSE. He is an international economic development practitioner with experience advising governments in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe on growth policy, economic diversification and public financial management.

Gabriela Ramos (@gabramosp) is the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, where she oversees the contributions of the institution to build inclusive and peaceful societies. Her agenda includes the achievement of social inclusion and gender equality, advancing youth development; promotion of values through sports; anti-racism and antidiscriminatory agenda and ethics of artificial intelligence.

Vanessa Rubio-Márquez (@VRubioMarquez) is the Associate Dean of Extended Education and based at LSE’s School of Public Policy. She has had a 25 year long career in Mexico’s public service, including serving as Senator and three times Deputy Minister (Finance -first woman in history at the job; Social Development; and Foreign Affairs).

Andrés Velasco (@AndresVelasco) is Professor of Public Policy and Dean of LSE’s School of Public Policy. In 2017-18 he was a member of the G20 Eminent Persons Group. He was also a presidential candidate in Chile in 2013 and was the Minister of Finance of Chile between March 2006 and March 2010.

For more information, please click here.

How to Attend

Registration is requested. Use the Sign Up link below.

Organized By: LSE | School of Public Policy