Session
Organizer 1: Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 3: Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 1: Bobina Zulfa, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Alex Moltzau, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Costa Barbosa Alexandre, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 4: Yu Ping Chan, Intergovernmental Organization, Asia-Pacific Group
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The core of the session will take place after the initial, short presentations of the panelists, where a roundtable discussion lasting 20 minutes will take place between panelists and attendees, who are all expected to engage in an open dialogue, exploring the policy questions. The reason for this format is that, considering that the discussion on the intersection between sustainability and sovereignty in the AI realm is yet in its infancy, the goal of the session will be to grasp the ideas of all the participants, including those watching the discussion, so as to make the discussion richer. The moderators are expected to guide and incentivise participation using the policy questions and platforms like Miro and Jamboard.
1. How can nations reduce their technological dependency in the realm of AI while ensuring that the development of these technologies leaves low environmental impacts and supports them in achieving the SDGs? 2. What are the main tensions between the aspirations of governments and communities — including social movements and Indigenous communities — with regard to AI sovereignty and how can they be addressed? 3. How can the multistakeholder model of Internet Governance be applied within the design of policies aimed at fostering sustainable AI sovereignty so as to have the demands of social movements effectively taken into consideration?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the critical tensions between AI sustainability and sovereignty, including the environmental, social, and geopolitical dimensions of these issues. They will also learn about the challenges of balancing global AI development with local and national aspirations for autonomy. The session will also highlight the unique needs and aspirations of different communities, such as Indigenous peoples and social movements, in relation to AI sovereignty. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of how to address these needs in national and global AI strategies and regulations. The workshop is also expected to bring actionable recommendations for stakeholders in the AI ecosystem to implement sustainable and sovereign AI practices.
Description:
Debates regarding the governance of AI have also been intensified based on the critical questions AI raises regarding the environmental impacts of the sector and the aspirations of nations and communities to achieve AI sovereignty. This is particularly relevant as AI has been considered a matter of national security in multiple jurisdictions as well as an existential issue for nations, for its role in accelerating the race after minerals, water and energy to power the infrastructures and devices necessary for the technology’s development. This is a global issue. However, In the Global South, where countries like Brazil have already expressed their desire to promote AI sovereignty in alignment with environmental sustainability, tackling technological dependency may be key to addressing issues as diverse as cybersecurity threats, work exploitation, environmental degradation and regulatory enforcement, this can be particularly challenging. Historical inequalities in access to technologies, capacities, and infrastructure are some of the barriers that exist in helping jurisdictions achieve sustainable and sovereign AI development. Moreover, the colonial heritage in these territories may also impose challenges concerning how historically vulnerabilised communities create their own means of AI sovereignty and self-determination to protect themselves with and against governments. This panel will thus explore the tensions between AI sustainability and sovereignty. It will address these issues in both the Global North and the Global South, examining differences in how governments, communities and the AI industry can align the technology’s development with sustainability while respecting countries' sovereignty. Additionally, the panel will highlight the internal tensions within countries, where different communities—such as Indigenous peoples and social movements—have distinct aspirations and necessities regarding their relationship with digital technologies, including data protection and the use of natural resources.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the critical tensions between AI sustainability and sovereignty, including the environmental, social, and geopolitical dimensions of these issues. They will learn about the challenges of balancing global AI development with local and national aspirations for autonomy. Moreover, the discussion between speakers and attendees is expected to bring forward innovative approaches to reducing the environmental impact of AI, such as energy-efficient algorithms, renewable energy use in data centers, and sustainable AI governance frameworks. These insights can inform their own practices and policies, particularly in face of the geopolitical tensions shaping the global AI landscape, including how countries are reducing their dependence on foreign technologies and asserting their autonomy in AI development.
Hybrid Format: After initial presentations from the speakers, the session will include a 20-minute session for information exchange and Q&A. Online participants will be encouraged by specific questions posed on Jamboard to share their opinions and bring their own questions. Moreover, they will be incentivised to speak, and not only share their questions on the chat. Online participants will be prioritised in the discussion, considering the challenges posed, in particular to those in the Global South, to travel to Europe to attend events like the IGF. Online attendees will be interspersed with onsite ones in order to make the discussion as dynamic as possible. We will use also Miro for collaborative brainstorming so as to enhance participation, allowing both onsite and online attendees to contribute equally and meaningfully to the conversation.