Artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a stage of maturity and extensive application across supply chains and manufacturing, in automation, public governance, media and entertainment. While industries and societies are quick in the uptake of AI to harness benefits and opportunities, many governments are catching up to develop responsible and appropriate regulatory frameworks, to prevent immense possible harm of mismanaged AI.

During this active shaping process, the European Commission has unveiled its draft AI Act (AIA) in April 2021; ongoing discussion and a law-making process that seeks to establish key agenda and practices in the field of AI regulation continues in the EU Parliament in 2022. Simultaneously in the past 2-3 years, a number of Asian countries are actively rolling out policy papers, laws, and guidelines stages concerning AI regulation, embracing different emphases and approaches.

The Hong Kong office of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (hbs) and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) are inviting to a series of three webinars that bring together experts and interested audiences from the Asia-Pacific region and Europe to discuss current ideas and approaches around the regulation of AI including:

• What kind of regulatory regime can put effective checks on misuse or socially dangerous developments without harming technological progress in the field?
• How can accountability of AI-supported decision-making be secured if the details of the process cannot be fully and transparently explained?
• How is it possible, in an environment of large-scale data usage, to safeguard privacy and data protection?

The series seeks to share best practices, developments and governance frameworks, to deepen insights how to address AI-related governance and policy challenges globally.