Technologies like generative AI, augmented reality, robotics, and quantum computing hold tremendous promise for addressing major societal challenges and unlocking unimagined opportunities. From leveling the playing field in education, to reducing violence, to realizing breakthroughs in patient care, these new technologies offer transformative power.
At the same time, these same technologies introduce stark new risks and raise thorny policy questions. For instance, how should society govern these emerging technologies in service of the greater public good? And, whose responsibility should it be: government? big tech? a combination? or some alternative entity?
To help address these intertwined issues and opportunities, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy is introducing the Harris Technology & Society Initiative (HTSI) a two-pronged strategy to:
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Leverage evidence and analysis to inform technology governance– Harris is exploring several pressing questions concerning governance issues related to generative AI. A working group of academics from Harris, the University of Chicago, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business – along with leaders from civil society and major tech companies – are working to produce recommendations for managing the impact of generative AI on the 2024 US elections and beyond. Working groups on other critical AI and broader technology governance issues are being formed. Their efforts will ultimately shed light on myriad concerns that could be alleviated by effective governance, including political polarization, misinformation, privacy, market concentration, free expression, property rights, market stability, and many more.
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This story was first published by UChicago's Harris School of Public Policy.
