LIST OF PANELS

The exceptional growth and rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies (AITs) is transforming governance landscapes globally, with nations increasingly adopting AI for both public and private sectors. From digital imaging to public health and from cybersecurity to education, AITs are reshaping processes and national governments are continually pursuing AI strategies to assert technological leadership. In parallel, multilateral bodies like the United Nations, European Commission, and World Bank are working to establish global AI standards, trying to promote the safe and inclusive development and equitable access to AITs.
 
Nevertheless, despite these efforts, implementing AI-driven policies raises complex challenges and policy implementation poses profound challenges in addressing political, legal, ethical, and socio-economic issues across diverse contexts. Central to these challenges is also data, which sits at the core of every AI technology. Accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and consistency are some of the data-quality related concerns that can significantly impact AI outcomes. With surge in generative AI, there is a continuous fear and issue of accuracy, bias, and discrimination inherent in LLMs. Similarly, in many countries of the Global South, the adoption and regulation of AI are marked by distinct socio-political and economic challenges that differ substantially from those of the Global North. Limited access to technological infrastructure, a shortage of specialized skills, and scarce financial resources often hinder AI development. The absence of comprehensive national AI policies can leave these countries vulnerable to unregulated technology imports, raising concerns about data sovereignty and privacy.
 
This panel aims to critically examine the policy frameworks that guide AI’s integration into public sectors, exploring how AI is shaping governance structures and impacting public trust, transparency, and accountability. The goal of this panel is to create a comprehensive dialogue on AI’s role in public policy, aiming to identify pathways for balanced and inclusive AI governance.
 
The panel aims to address several research questions, including:
 
- How can policy and technology circuit collaborate to [co]create regulatory frameworks that ensure safe, effective, and fair AI implementation?
 
- How can countries in the Global South develop AI policies that address their unique socio-political contexts, and what role can global standards play in supporting this?
 
- In what ways or can public sector AI initiatives from the Global North serve as reference points for countries in the Global South, and how can policy frameworks adapt to the unique socio-political contexts of these regions?
 
- What governance structures and regulatory approaches are most effective in building public trust in AI technologies, especially within contexts where AI-driven decisions impact citizen welfare and rights?
 
- What policy measures can mitigate the potential job displacement caused by automation, and how can governments ensure that workforce transitions are equitable?

- How can collaboration between policymakers, technologists, and civil society increase an ethical AI framework that balances innovation with societal values and norms?
 
- How can national and global data governance frameworks improve data quality dimensions such as accuracy, timeliness, and consistency?

This panel seeks to address critical questions surrounding the integration of artificial intelligence technologies (AITs) into public policy frameworks and governance structures. Some of the questions that this panel wishes to address include: how are governments navigating the ethical, legal, and socio-economic challenges posed by AI? In what ways can policy frameworks be refined to support public trust, transparency, and accountability in AI-driven decision-making? Additionally, what distinct challenges do countries in the Global South face as they adopt and regulate AITs, particularly in balancing technological advancement with data sovereignty and resource limitations?

Papers are invited that explore these questions through diverse theoretical, methodological, or empirical lenses, with particular interest in policy approaches that address the nuanced challenges of AI implementation across varied governance contexts.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
 
- National AI Strategy Development
- AI in Public Administration
- Data Governance and Sovereignty in AI
- AI for Inclusive Development
- Public Trust and AI Governance
- AI and Workforce Development
- Comparative Analysis of AI Policy Frameworks
- Digital Inequality and AI Access
 
Submissions are welcome from scholars and practitioners across disciplines that contribute to a comprehensive understanding of AI's role in public policy and governance. Accepted papers will have the opportunity to create a comprehensive dialogue on AI’s role in public policy, aiming to identify pathways for balanced and inclusive AI governance.