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Southeast Asia AI Webinar Series

​​​​​​​​​​​Background

Since June 2021, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RO-ASP) has been implementing a project called “Enhancing the Development of Standards and Frameworks for Critical Technologies in Southeast Asia", financed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The aim of the project is to support the development of AI standards, policies, frameworks, and initiatives that mainstream gender equality and social inclusion in four countries in the region, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, through a multi-stakeholder approach. The project has published a research report into gender and AI policies in the region through a collaboration with UNU Macau. It has also carried out a series of capacity-building and information-sharing workshops and events, most notably the AI roadshow in the four countries in early 2023. As part of the roadshow, sensitization on the intersection between Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and AI were conducted.

Building on the previous project activities and in line with the project's goal and objectives, ITU RO-ASP is organizing a series of webinars to continue to share information and build capacity on gender-sensitive and socially inclusive AI standards, policies, frameworks and initiatives.

While the webinars are focused on the four project countries, they are public events and open to all interested parties.

Events

​The webinar series consists of five 1-hour webinars that highlight different aspects of the development of AI standards, policies, frameworks, and initiatives seen through a gender- and social inclusion lens and with perspectives from different stakeholders.

The tentative schedule for the series is as follows:

No.

Date

Topic​

1

02:00 pm - 03:00 pm 
21 May 2024 (GMT+7)

Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Artificial Intelligence – What's the Connection?

2

02:00 pm - 03:30 pm 
17 July 2024 (GMT+7)

International and Comparative Perspectives on AI Governance​ 

3

02:00 pm - 03:00 pm 
12 September​​​ 2024 (GMT+7)

Industry Engagement with AI Standards to Advance Fairness, Equality, and Inclusion

4

03:00 pm - 04:30 pm 
4 December 2024 (GMT+7)

The Role of Civil Society in Advancing Reponsible AI


Webinar Sessions Information

​​Webinar 1: Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Artificial Intelligence – What's the Connection?

Focus: This webinar reviews the link between AI and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), and highlights the risks AI can pose to women and marginalized groups in society. It touches upon subjects like gender, algorithmic bias, the feminization of AI, and real-world implications of discriminatory AI systems. It also shows how gender-blind and gender-neutral approaches to AI can contribute to gender inequalities, and advocates for approaches that ​are gender-sensitive and transformative instead. As such, it reflects presentations carried out at seminars in the four project countries in early 2023.

Speaker: Associate Professor Joyee S. Chatterjee from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand

Registration: Please click here​ to register for the event

​Webinar 2: International and Comparative Perspectives on AI Governance​

Focus: There is a global consensus that some guardrails are needed to mitigate the risks that AI systems can pose (see for example the recent UN General Assembly Resolution on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI). Countries around the world are developing a variety of AI guidelines, recommendations, and standards, as well as legislation and regulation to govern the development and deployment of AI systems. For example, the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act – the world's first comprehensive AI regulation – will come into force in 2024. Other countries take a different approach than the EU, for example Australia, Singapore, and the USA. Additionally, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently introduced its Guide on AI Governance and Ethics to support responsible AI in the region. This webinar thus examines recent global governance developments in AI and their relevance for AI policy and standards development in the four project countries.

Speakers: 

  • Mr. Hazremi Hamid, Senior Officer – Digital Economy Division, the ASEAN Secretariat​
  • Mr. Martin Schlotelburg, Councellor, EUIPO IP Attachй for Southeast Asia, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand
  • Ms. Undral Ganbataar, Programme Specialist, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Jakarta
  • Dr. Cecilia Danesi, Professor and Researcher in AI and Civil Law, University of Buenos Aires/Pontifical University of Salamanca

 

Registration: Please click here to register for the event.​

​Webinar 3: INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT WITH AI STANDARDS TO ADVANCE FAIRNESS, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION

Focus: This webinar will showcase approaches from the private sector, government, and standards organizations on how industry and company standards on AI can improve fairness, equality, and inclusion in AI development and deployment, drawing upon experiences from Australia, Singapore, and the broader Southeast Asia

Speakers:
 

  • Mr. Chung Sang Hao, Deputy Director (Industry), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore / AI Verify Foundation
  • Dr. Jasmine Begum, Director of Legal, Corporate & Government Affairs for ASEAN and New Markets, Microsoft
  • Ms. Alex Snelson, Strategic Initiatives Manager and Mr. Will Giacometti, Strategic Initiatives Officer, Standards Australia​

​Registration: Please click here​ to register for the event.

​Webinar 4: THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN ADVANCING RESPONSIBLE AI

Focus: It will highlight the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in advancing the responsible development and deployment of AI and in mitigating gender and social biases in AI. It will also provide approaches for CSOs to engage with AI policy and governance efforts to achieve this goal.

Speakers: 

  • TBD, Access Now, India
  • Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director, Asia Centre
  • Mr. Shefatul Islam, Chief Policy Advisor for Bangladesh, and Mr. Heramb Podar, Executive Director for India, Encode Justice

Registration: Please click here​ to register for the event