August Digital Matters

This month’s Digital Matters—our monthly round-up of news, research, events, and notable uses of tech— navigates the transformative landscape of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the ethical evolution of AI, and the imperative for inclusivity in the tech realm. We are focused not just on the tools of the digital era but the blueprint of our digital future: one that champions inclusivity, equity, and shared global values.

From Russel Wald's advocacy for the democratization of AI to Timnit Gebru's sharp critique of corporate AI's scientific grounding, this month's collection underscores the urgency of ensuring technological advancement aligns with the societal good. As the U.S. grapples with the nuances of tech regulation and AI's wide-reaching influence, we also spotlight the global efforts — with special attention to UNDP's latest offerings — aimed at guiding nations in their digital transformation journeys.

How can DPI help us center on a positive vision of a digital future?

DPI must be developed with a people-centric ethos rather than be driven by tech. Shifting this culture of innovation towards recognizing environmental impact, social well being, and the economic viability of solutions could go a long way in establishing robust accountability measures and clear governance frameworks to ensure transparency and responsible decision-making.

Explainer: What is digital public infrastructure?, by Thao Hong, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Aug 16, 2023)

The efficacy of a country's response to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic was, in many instances, determined by its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DPI, comparable to a country's physical road networks, can enable nations to efficiently offer economic and social services. Thao Hong explains in this piece the three pillars of a robust DPI: identity (providing official digital IDs to citizens), payments (secure digital platforms to facilitate financial transactions), and data exchange (interlinking various institutions to share data for public benefit). When these systems interconnect, nations can harness the full potential of DPI, fostering vibrant economies. DPI not only stimulates market activity and facilitates governmental services but also aids in disaster response, as evidenced by countries swiftly dispersing emergency funds during the pandemic. Moreover, DPI can significantly contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by promoting equality, enhancing healthcare, and driving sustainable economic growth.

We also recommend BMGF’s related case study on Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) and how Digital IDs are an effective tool against poverty by Kanwaljit Singh.

Compendium and Playbook on Digital Public Infrastructure by UNDP (Aug 21st, 2023)

The G20 India Presidency in partnership with UNDP launched two knowledge products on DPI to help countries advance their digital transformation journeys. The compendium serves as a reservoir of digital solutions which are intricately mapped to all 17 SDGs, adhering to principles of interoperability, open standards, societal-scale impact, and stringent regulatory frameworks.

Complementing this compendium is the DPI playbook, a resource tailored primarily for low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and built on robust international experiences and insights gleaned from consultations with LMICs. It contains checklists, assessment tools, case studies, and best practices, offering a roadmap for governments across different departments.

How are U.S. policymakers and regulators approaching technology regulation to strengthen our digital future?

Some days it feels like we are on the precipice of real oversight measures and safeguards. On others, it too often feels like we are back at square one. The rapid emergence of AI powered tools has reinvigorated debate about what the U.S. government can do, or is willing to do, to help shape a healthier digital landscape.

We Must Pass the Create AI Act by Russel Wald, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (Aug 7, 2023)

Last month, the U.S. Congress unveiled a bipartisan bill, the CREATE AI Act, aimed at democratizing the field of artificial intelligence (AI). If passed, this legislation would establish a national AI research resource, granting broader access to critical datasets and computing power, particularly for academics, nonprofits, and startups. Russell Wald at HAI explains in the piece how today, the AI landscape is dominated by corporate giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, driving AI research primarily for profit, with minimal contribution from academia or government. The act aims to rebalance this disparity by encouraging diverse, non-commercial perspectives and promoting responsible AI research. With Congress currently reviewing the act, its proponents hope to ensure that AI's future isn't solely profit-driven but beneficial for society at large.

Advocates Call for White House Action on AI Harms by Gabby Miller, Tech Policy Press (Aug 11, 2023)

Gaby Miller provides a round up of significant work by several organizations to focus on AI harms. As the Biden administration signals its intent to focus on AI development and responsible use, the specifics of an impending AI executive order remain nebulous. In response, several advocacy groups, civil society organizations, and think tanks are putting forth policy recommendations to emphasize civil rights protections within AI policy development. In the backdrop of two major hacking conferences, Black Hat USA and Defcon, held in Las Vegas, the White House introduced its AI hacking competition, the AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC). This move, aiming to identify software vulnerabilities and bolster U.S. cybersecurity, is backed by a $20 million prize pool and collaboration between major AI companies like Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, along with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). As discussions around AI governance intensify, there's a mix of anticipation and uncertainty regarding immediate legislative actions on AI at the federal level.

Letter from Civil Rights and Tech Groups Calling on Biden to Incorporate AI Bill of Rights into Forthcoming AI Executive Order by the Center of Democracy and Technology, (August 3, 2023)

Prominent civil rights, technology policy, and progressive organizations, including the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Center for American Progress, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, have penned a letter to the White House urging President Joe Biden to center his forthcoming executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) around the protection of the public from the potential negative impacts of AI technology. Drawing on previous legislative efforts, the groups particularly emphasize the significance of adopting the five principles outlined in the previous year's AI Bill of Rights. This call to action reflects the broader societal concerns about the rapid advancements in AI and the need for governance that upholds democratic values and safeguards citizen rights.

Congress eyes establishing a digital regulator by Mark MacCarthy, Brookings (August 9, 2023)

In this in-depth commentary, MacCarthy delves into the intricate complexities of digital regulation, emphasizing the necessity for a specialized digital agency. Highlighting the multifaceted challenges of implementing and balancing regulatory policies across data portability, competition, privacy, and content moderation, the piece underscores the inadequacy of generalist courts in addressing such intricacies. MacCarthy commends the FTC for its emerging role in digital regulation but critiques its broad purview, arguing for a more industry-specific regulatory body. Drawing parallels to historical regulatory precedents, the commentary suggests a phased approach: initially empowering existing bodies like the FTC, followed by the eventual establishment of a dedicated digital agency. This comprehensive piece offers a compelling blueprint for the evolution of digital governance in an era of rapid technological change.

How can we ensure technology development and implementation is diverse, equitable and inclusive?

If developed, deployed, and governed responsibly, digital solutions are tools that can help reestablish the foundation for society-wide public administration, economic activity, and innovation–hardwired with accountability, effectiveness, equity, and security. But tech on its own isn’t diverse, equitable, or inclusive. It is reliant on informed policy decisions and good governance measures. The complicated pursuit of balancing innovative opportunities with potential risks is a necessary step in helping us deliver better societal outcomes.

Timnit Gebru Looks at Corporate AI and Sees a Lot of Bad Science by Timnit Gebru and Ethan Zuckerman, Reimagining the Internet podcast and transcript (August 15, 2023)

In a compelling conversation between Ethan Zuckerman and Dr. Timnit Gebru, the multifaceted relationship between AI, society, and policy unfolds. Gebru, renowned for her work on the ethical implications of AI, underscores the gravity of algorithmic bias, emphasizing the potential perils of unchecked AI applications. Drawing parallels between AI's trajectory and the contentious roots of statistics in eugenics, Gebru advocates for a holistic approach, prioritizing human agency in AI development. Central to her argument is the importance of diversifying the voices in AI's creation, suggesting that a broader representation can steer technology towards more equitable and ethical outcomes. Their discourse reinforces the necessity of a harmonious union between technology and policy, ensuring that AI serves society in the most effective and just manner.

PIT Scholars Mobilize to Inform National Science Foundation Roadmap by Andreen Soley, Allison Price, and Alberto Rodríguez (Aug. 16, 2023)

On July 27th, the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) provided insights to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to guide the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate’s future investment strategies. These recommendations stem from PIT-UN's core values and reflect the priorities of leading scholars regarding federal funding, workforce advancement, and public policy with a particular focus on diversifying the technology workforce and pipeline. This action underlines PIT-UN's proactive stance, consolidating views from its 64 member institutions to address urgent policy matters. At the heart of this discussion is the allocation of the $24 billion federal funding from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, meant to shape the U.S. technological trajectory by focusing on areas like national security, STEM inclusivity, and emergent technologies like AI and quantum computing. PIT-UN's advocates for a holistic approach to digital innovation, emphasizing the essential balance between harnessing technological opportunities and mitigating potential risks.

Reimagining Our High-Tech World by Mike Kubzansky, Stanford Social Innovation Review (Aug, 2023)

The rapid proliferation of digital technology, especially generative AI (Gen AI), has far-reaching implications for the U.S. society and economy. While AI's potential benefits are significant, there's increasing concern about its unchecked influence on areas like insurance, employment, and healthcare, leading to calls for greater algorithmic accountability. Notably, as states grapple with regulation, tech insiders are sounding alarms about existential risks comparable to nuclear war and pandemics. Kubzansky, emphasizes that to harness technology for societal good, there needs to be a shared vision based on democratic principles. The article raises pivotal questions about reshaping our tech landscape by reevaluating underlying economic assumptions, fostering diverse participation, emphasizing ethics and transparency, reimagining policies, and innovating financial models to prioritize societal welfare over sheer growth.

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