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Microsoft Vice Chair delivers lecture on AI
- Jun 15, 2023
- 2869
- Speaker highlights balance between industry promotion and regulation in AI legislation
- Speaker warns of possible use of AI technology for surveillance and deepening inequality
- Microsoft Vice Chair expresses interest in easier public access to AI technology to boost productivity
Speaker of the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo met on April 18 with Microsoft Vice Chairman Brad Smith at the Office of the Speaker, after which they attended a lecture by Smith entitled ‘The Present and Future of AI, and Us.’ The event was arranged to improve understanding of the latest AI technology such as ChatGPT as well as the National Assembly’s policy-making capacity.
During his meeting with Smith, Speaker Kim said, “The Republic of Korea, as a relative latecomer to AI technology, is keenly interested in disseminating AI technology by applying it to the public and private sectors. I hope that Microsoft, which is at the forefront of AI technology, will share its experience and expertise.”
He then added, “With concerns growing about the social side effects of AI, the National Assembly will need to determine the appropriate level of regulation for the AI legislation process so as not to hinder the industry’s growth.”
Vice Chairman Smith expressed interest in seeking easier public access to the technology, saying that new technologies like AI make it possible to improve economic productivity as the number of economically active people decreases. He pointed to the need to introduce measures to protect against possible technology abuses, as well as the improved productivity derived by maximizing AI’s benefits.
After the meeting, Speaker Kim attended Smith’s lecture, followed by a ChatGPT demonstration by Hello AI CEO Kim Young-wook. They were joined by National Assembly members and about 250 staff members.
The Speaker noted, “AI will advance at an ever-faster rate, and the competition to take the lead in the new era will intensify. As a relative latecomer to the global AI competition, Korea needs close government-industry collaboration to become a strong player.”
He also warned, “AI must not serve as a means of surveilling and discriminating against people or of deepening inequality. I hope that today’s lecture will provide an opportunity to think about the present and future of AI, and the National Assembly’s role.”
During his lecture, Smith referred to AI as a powerful new tool for critical thinking and creative expression while explaining the basic principles of the latest AI technology in line with Microsoft’s efforts to develop and use the technology responsibly and build a system with guardrails.
The meeting attendees from Microsoft included Microsoft Korea CEO Lee Ji-eun; Microsoft Vice Chairman Brad Smith’s Chief of Staff Carol Ahn Browne; and head of Microsoft Korea’s External & Legal Affairs Division Yoon Chan. From the National Assembly, attendees included Secretary General of the National Assembly Lee Kwang-jae; Chief of Staff to the Speaker Park Kyung-mee; Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Kyung-ho; Senior Secretary for Policy Song Ki-bok; and Senior Secretary for Public Relations Ko Jae-hak.
