Energy is the impediment that will drive the geopolitics behind enterprise tech and AI dominance

There isn’t enough power in the developed world for deployment of these new technologies for even 50% of population, much less AI countries

REMARKS: H.E. Ambassador Professor Gilbert Morris at Bahamas Diplomtic Week Forum on AI and Development

I have only just returned from 10 weeks of lectures and seminars on “AI and the Human Future” in China, Singapore, London, Panama, Mexico and California; which included touring the facilities of the companies and engaging with the individuals who are designing the human future, together with those financing them.

The aim was to both to gain and to explain the actual state of affairs of the coming techno-centric human future:

It’s necessary to state hard facts that are beyond mere opinions or positive or negative perceptions:

1. Only 7% of world’s nations produce any AI tech.  This means 93% have little to no say in AI architecture, design or deployment.  Our definitions of “keeping pace with innovation” usually means someone else’s innovations!

2. In today’s world, that “someone else’s” will be increasingly a non-state actor: Google’s “Gemini” or Anthropic’s “Claude” - Facebook or NVIDA are all larger that 90% of the worlds nations in valuation terms and there is nothing small states can do to get them to alter their technologies for our benefit.

3. Of the 93% of nations left, about 1/3rd are role model states - Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand etc - with exceptions like India, Singapore and Estonia.  These states don’t manufacture enterprise technology, but they have the means to acquire and manufacture components of enterprise tech, which gives them leverage.

4. The rest are spilt in two; neither of which has leverage: first are mere consumers of tech, whose systems and infrastructure will change to conform to the tech they commune.  Second is the abject “digital divide” where they they will have to make do with dregs and second-hand tech.  They will - by current structures - live off the scraps.

5. ⁠The Promised Balance is Eroding: AI has had diagnostic breakthroughs in health and public-facing innovations in immigration and eGovernment in Singapore and Estonia, for instance.  But the innovations are outpacing the very concept of the nation state, as technology is developing faster than societies, economic and legal systems can adapt.

6. ⁠Social Media now enhanced in impact and speed-of-spread by AI, is producing distortions of reality and neuro-cognitive atrophies; which has reached crisis levels amongst young people and crisis levels in schools and universities.  More than 2 dozen nations have banned social media access for children at school or between 7pm and 7am; with China limiting social media to 2 hours per day for children.

7. ⁠At the heart of social tech is personal identity: Estonia solved this by declaring that a citizen is now the unity of one’s Biological and Virtual self; a unified identity.  Estonia also made internet access a Human Right in their Constitution; additionally, Estonia held their last 8 General Elections online for 1.3 million people.  In Estonia, AI does not replace people but is structured and used to enhance human life and social systems.

URGENT PRIORITIES:

1. We need humane technologies that prioritises humans and enhances human living systems rather than render humans useless.  Some sociologists argue that we are too divided for to generate the needed solutions.  But I find that people are not divided: “they are being divided” for the benefit of a few tech companies.

2. ⁠Social mapping, Economic Mapping, Health and Payments tech, Plurality Systems aimed at enhancing political participation are the best uses for AI and enterprise technologies.

3. ⁠The problem - AGAIN - is, small nations in the 93% don’t create this tech and it’s being designed by those creating it for human control rather than human enhancement.

4. ⁠Small nations must urgently align and cooperate to ensure tech deployment at a pace of social absorption, without the ill-effects of limbic-colonialism or dopamine lust!

5. ⁠Small nations must convene a global congress aimed at setting new rules that will change our economic models across the world more in the next 3 years than the last 1,300 years.

6. ⁠But there are additionally two main crucial matters:

a. Even if managed well, AI will induce massive labour destabilisation.  It’s not enough to say it will create jobs because AI companies will create AI to take those jobs too.  Some advise a switch to Universal Basic Income (IBI).  But UBI can’t be universal: manufacturing nations would have no UBI whilst non-manufacturing nations would have it, so as to create a market for transactions.  This needs to be mapped out immediately.

b. There isn’t enough power in the developed world for deployment of these new technologies for even 50% of population, much less al countries.  Energy is the impediment that will drive the geopolitics behind enterprise tech and AI dominance. 

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In The Digital Economy and Culture - It is crucial to ensure that everyone can benefit from connectivity in an era of rapid technological advancement

The digital future is not guaranteed; it gets shaped through the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved

Nothing is Fated: Shaping an Equitable Digital Future Must be a Collective Endeavor

By Edgar Cabañas

As Karim Lesina, EVP of Millicom, correctly points out, in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and connectivity, the future is not a predetermined destination awaiting our arrival; rather, it is a realm we actively shape and build together.

The digital future is not guaranteed; it gets shaped through the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved.  This sentiment lies at the heart of major telecommunications companies, highlighting the crucial role of collective contributions in steering us toward a future that embraces efficiency, equity, and opportunity.

The indispensable role of collaboration among various actors within the digital ecosystem is a critical factor for success.  From telecommunications giants to policymakers, from innovators to consumers, investors, and development banks, each participant plays a vital role in shaping the trajectory of digitization.

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Additional reading

• Digital Connectivity: Oil for the 21st Century
• The Great Tech Revolution: Artificial General Intelligence & Multilateral Development Bank

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In recognizing this interdependence, telecommunications companies acknowledge that a shared vision is essential for harnessing the full potential of the digital era.

Efficiency and equity are the twin pillars upon which any successful connectivity policy must rest.  It is crucial to ensure that everyone can benefit from connectivity in an era of rapid technological advancement.

This requires deploying robust infrastructure and implementing policies that bridge the digital divide and empower marginalized communities.  By fostering an environment of inclusivity and accessibility, telecommunications companies pave the way for a more equitable digital future.

However, achieving these goals necessitates the concerted efforts of all stakeholders involved.  As key architects of the digital landscape, telecommunications companies bear a significant responsibility in this regard.

By endorsing initiatives prioritizing efficiency, equity, and collaboration, these companies demonstrate their commitment to advancing society's collective interests.

At its core, telecommunications companies reflect a recognition of the transformative power of connectivity.  In an increasingly interconnected world, digitization has the potential to revolutionize every aspect of our lives, from education and healthcare to commerce and governance.

Yet, realizing this potential requires more than technological advancement; it demands a shared commitment to fostering an ecosystem that values inclusivity, innovation, and social responsibility.

As we navigate the complexities of the digital future, we must do so with a collective mindset that transcends individual interests and embraces the common good.  By coming together to chart a course toward a more connected, equitable, and sustainable future, we can harness technology's transformative power to build a world that works for everyone.

The major telecommunications companies serve as a testament to the importance of collaboration in shaping the digital future.  By recognizing the shared responsibility, we all bear in this endeavor, we can work towards creating a more connected, inclusive, and prosperous world for generations to come.

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The power of ChatGPT in revolutionizing the way we produce and manage knowledge, especially in public policy - from initial ideas to final briefs and project implementation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are at the forefront in our world of advancing technology

Leveraging the power of ChatGPT to produce innovative public policy

By Marcello Basani

The world of technology is advancing rapidly, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are at the forefront.  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) strongly believes in the advantages of using cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, deep learning, and transformers to enhance efficiency and productivity, increase inclusivity, and reduce emissions in infrastructure.  In Latin America and the Caribbean, these technologies enable countries to analyze data more effectively and automate manual processes, resulting in better decision-making and services.

The infrastructure sector already applies technologies that reduce water and electricity losses, automate pavement and signage analysis, diagnose road safety features, and automate satellite imagery inspection to estimate solar power generation, detect water and sanitation assets, and create inventories of unpaved roads.

AI can revolutionize the water sector by providing innovative solutions to complex challenges.  It can be used to analyze data from multiple sources (sensors, satellites, and social media) to identify water quality issues and predict trends.  Thus, water managers can respond to contamination events quickly and accurately.  AI can optimize water resource management by predicting demand, identifying leakages, and optimizing treatment processes.  It can predict flood and drought events based on weather, soil moisture, and water level data analysis and help managers take preventive measures.  Finally, it can even identify wastage in homes and businesses and suggest ways for consumers to conserve water and reduce their bills.

One of the most exciting developments in this field is the rise of OpenAI’s language model: ChatGPT, a cutting-edge technology that can revolutionize the way we produce and manage knowledge, especially in public policy, from initial ideas to final briefs and project implementation.  This language model relies on a massive dataset of millions of web pages to generate text that is almost indistinguishable from that written by a human.

With ChatGPT, knowledge producers and organizations looking to create high-quality content can produce policy briefs, reports, and other written materials in a fraction of the time it would take to do so manually.  For example, in the case of renewable energy, ChatGPT can quickly generate a list of potential initiatives, as well as outline the pros and cons of each one.  Knowledge organizations can quickly and efficiently explore complex issues, provide in-depth analysis, and evaluate different scenarios and ideas from other fields to provide valuable insights and guide decision-makers in the development of more effective policies. 

Policy experts could also use ChatGPT to: 

• Generate summaries of large amounts of data, making it easier to digest and understand the information. 
• Create data visualizations and interactive reports, adding language descriptions and explanations of the data, trends, and patterns, making it easier for stakeholders to understand the information presented. 
• Simulate scenarios and assess the impact of different policy options, leading to the creation of better-informed and more effective public policies. 
• Produce insightful reports with in-depth analysis of the impact of policy initiatives on the defined field. 
• Quickly analyze large datasets and produce concise and actionable insights that can guide decision-makers. 
• Understand the needs and perspectives of stakeholders, and provide recommendations and insights based on this information. 
• Streamline the policy development process.

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