For the past two years, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) has hosted annual conferences on China’s digital governance practices, covering developments in data, artificial intelligence (AI), and their implications for cybersecurity, digital trade, US-led technology export controls, and China’s pursuit of technological self-reliance and innovation.
OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in November 2022 marked a landmark achievement in AI development. While China was an early mover in establishing regulations on AI, including generative AI, it has since fallen behind and is striving to close the gap with the United States in the global AI arms race — currently centred on the rapid evolution of ChatGPT-like large language models and other foundational models.
Parallel to the rapid evolution of AI, the development of distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain is driving dramatic growth in the global digital assets market. The concept of digital assets we will discuss ranges from central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), cryptocurrencies and stablecoins to broader tokenization. In March 2022, the Biden administration issued an Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets, aiming to mitigate risks and possible financial instability caused by the development of digital assets in the United States and beyond. While mainland China remains one of the few economies piloting a retail CBDC and continues to ban cryptocurrency within its borders, Hong Kong has adopted an open and inclusive approach to virtual assets development.
Under these circumstances, this year’s conference will focus on discussing the development and governance of AI and digital assets — including the growing development of CBDCs in China and virtual assets in Hong Kong — and their implications for the world. Specifically, the round table will address the following points:
- Status of AI in China and latest developments:
- What are the current AI advancements in China regarding foundational models, AI chips, industrial applications, data centres and more?
- How does China’s future in AI development compare to that of the United States?
- AI and data governance in China:
- What are the latest developments in AI and data governance in China?
- What important legal and regulatory issues affect AI development in China?
- How do the latest measures and regulations for generative AI impact AI development in China?
- Economic, technological and geopolitical implications:
- What are the economic, technological and geopolitical implications of AI development and its governance in China, particularly amid US-China competition under strict US export controls on AI chips?
- Comparative governance styles of AI:
- What lessons can we learn from comparing the different governance styles of AI among China, Europe and the United States regarding the risks posed and opportunities created by AI development?
- China’s digital asset model:
- What does China’s digital asset model look like?
- Are there broader lessons in terms of governance and supervision of CBDCs and cryptocurrencies, the connection between digital assets and financial stability, risk management and more?
- Hong Kong’s regulatory framework for digital assets:
- What does Hong Kong’s digital assets market look like?
- What is the current status of, and what are the latest developments in, Hong Kong’s regulatory framework for digital assets?
This event will bring together scholars and experts from universities, research institutes, the technology sector, business and government in Canada and around the world to discuss the development and governance of AI, digital assets and CBDCs in China, and their potential economic, political, security and social implications for Canada and the global community.
Format
The workshop will consist of two sessions:
- a panel discussion on the development and governance of AI in China; and
- a panel discussion on a regulatory framework for digital assets in China and Hong Kong.
Each session will have four speakers followed by an open discussion among participants.
This event is by invitation only.