OAFP 6205 - International governance of Artificial Intelligence

Over the last two years, the advent of AI in public discourse and the rapid advancement of increasingly powerful AI systems, in particular generative AI, has brought the topic of artificial intelligence at the forefront of public policy internationally, as part of a “ChatGPT effect”. AI being depicted as either a revolutionary opportunity or a potential cataclysm for humanity, policymakers worldwide are contending with these dual narratives, striving to strike a balance between mitigating risks and fostering innovation, in the context of a global race between States for AI supremacy. In this respect, numerous laws, regulatory frameworks and initiatives are flourishing globally, amongst which the EU AI Act, the G7's Hiroshima Code of Conduct, various principles set forth by the UN, OECD and UNESCO, the Global Partnership on AI or the recent series of AI Summits. This proliferation of initiatives has led to a crowded and sometimes confusing landscape of global AI governance, while debates are still ongoing about the reality of AI risks and opportunities. In this context, this course aims to help students navigate this framework, enabling them to understand what AI is, its potential risks, and the various regulatory approaches taken by policymakers, both at domestic level and multilaterally. Students will develop a critical perspective on the debates surrounding AI governance, AI safety and the proliferation of international AI initiatives. Finally, they will gain practical insights into how decisions are made and international negotiations on AI unfold in dedicated fora (EU, G7, G20, OECD, UNESCO …). There are no prerequisites per se for this course, except a keen interest in digital policymaking and international affairs. It is designed to be taken by any student of the School of Public Affairs.
Clément BACCHI
Enseignement électif
English
Apart from the presentations/tests, there is no specific individual preparation needed for the sessions, except re-reading the last courses and preparing potential questions. Class participation will be highly appreciated and is important for this course to be as interactive as possible.
This course has been designed to be taken by any student of the School of Public Affairs. No pre-requisite is needed for the course per se, except an interest in digital policy and technologies, as well as geopolitics and international affairs.
Autumn 2024-2025
- 1 grade for participation/group presentation (10%) - 1 grade for an "exposé" (40%) - 1 grade for two short multiple-choice questionnaires (50%)
In person course + online resources on Google Drive
Yoshua Bengio et al., International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI, May 2024
Ian Bremmer, Mustafa Suleyman, The AI Power Paradox. Can States learn to govern artificial intelligence before it's too late?, Foreign Affairs, October 2023