Sri Lanka’s Leap into AI Governance

Published on: 20th September, 2024 | Authored by: Mr Archak Das

Key Highlights:

Seven Core Principles of AI Governance- Sri Lanka’s AI strategy draft announced on 7^th September, 2024 emphasizes inclusivity, responsibility, transparency, human-centricity, agile governance, collaboration, and sustainability to align with national goals and safeguard citizen rights. These principles provide an effective framework that balances the promotion of AI innovation with the protection of citizen rights and welfare.
Fostering AI Literacy- A significant focus on demystifying AI and promoting public understanding ensures that citizens are equipped to incorporate AI-driven solutions into their daily lives, driving inclusive growth and societal equity. In order to fully harness AI’s potential, it is crucial that the public understands how AI works, the benefits it offers, and the risks it poses.
Balanced Governance and Development- The strategy combines AI governance with proactive measures for responsible AI adoption, promoting ethical practices, transparency, and user well-being across the AI ecosystem.

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping industries and societies, Sri Lanka has taken a significant step forward with the release of its National AI Strategy and it aims to leverage AI for the country’s socio-economic growth, while ensuring that the development and deployment of AI technologies align with national values and citizen welfare. Embracing AI through such a framework of inclusivity, transparency, and responsibility, Sri Lanka is looking to unlock the transformative potential of AI to drive sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.

Seven Core Principles Guiding AI Development

Sri Lanka’s AI strategy has seven core principles that serve as a foundation for responsible AI governance:

Inclusivity and Responsibility– The strategy emphasizes the importance of ensuring that AI benefits all Sri Lankans, particularly marginalized groups. Inclusivity is key to leveraging AI’s potential to reduce inequalities and create opportunities across the social and economic spectrum.
Trustworthiness and Transparency– Transparency in AI processes, from development to deployment, is crucial for building public trust and by ensuring that AI systems operate in a clear and understandable manner, the government seeks to foster confidence in AI among citizens.
Human-Centricity– AI development in Sri Lanka is geared toward improving human welfare as it prioritizes human-centric AI applications that enhance the quality of life, support public services, and address national challenges in healthcare, education, and other sectors.
Adoption-Focused and Impact-Oriented– Sri Lanka aims to foster widespread adoption of AI technologies across industries and by focusing on the tangible impact of AI, the strategy ensures that the technology is not just a buzzword, but a driver of real-world improvements.
Agile and Adaptive Governance– Recognizing the fast-paced nature of AI development, Sri Lanka’s AI governance framework is designed to be agile and adaptive as this allows for flexibility in responding to new challenges, ensuring that regulations and policies remain relevant as AI technologies evolve.
Collaboration and Global Engagement– Collaboration with global AI leaders and organizations is a key pillar of the strategy as Sri Lanka aims to actively engage with international AI governance frameworks and partnerships, ensuring that its approach is aligned with global standards.
Sustainability and Future-Readiness– The strategy emphasizes the long-term sustainability of AI initiatives, ensuring that they contribute to national development goals and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as future-readiness is built into the strategy, preparing the nation for the continued evolution of AI technologies.

Fostering a Culture of AI Literacy

One of the standout features of Sri Lanka’s AI strategy is its focus on fostering AI literacy among citizens as in order to fully harness AI’s potential, it is crucial that the public understands how AI works, the benefits it offers, and the risks it poses. AI literacy will empower citizens to make informed decisions about incorporating AI technologies into their daily lives, from using AI-powered services to understanding their rights in an AI-driven world.

Sri Lanka’s commitment to AI literacy is particularly significant as it seeks to ensure that all citizens, regardless of socio-economic status, are prepared to engage with AI and by demystifying the technology and promoting widespread understanding, the country can create a platform of trust, where citizens are not only consumers of AI services but also active participants in shaping AI’s future.

Ethical and Responsible AI Development

Sri Lanka’s AI strategy goes beyond governance by emphasizing the need for ethical AI development and while strong governance frameworks are necessary to mitigate the risks associated with AI, the strategy recognizes that governance alone is not sufficient. It must also be accompanied by a proactive approach to developing AI in a manner that is transparent, fair, and accountable and by fostering a culture of responsible AI development, Sri Lanka aims to lead by example in the global AI ecosystem. To achieve this, Sri Lanka is focusing on several key initiatives:

Providing Practical Tools for AI Development– Organizations and developers will be given practical guidance and tools to help them build AI solutions that align with ethical standards and national goals.
Safe Experimentation– The strategy encourages safe experimentation with AI technologies, allowing organizations to test new solutions while adhering to strict ethical guidelines.
Capacity Building– A major focus is on building local capacity for AI development as this involves training AI developers, researchers, and business leaders in the principles of responsible AI use.

AI for Sustainable Development

Sri Lanka’s AI strategy aligns closely with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goal of leaving no one behind as AI has the potential to play a transformative role in achieving the SDGs by driving inclusive growth, improving public services, and addressing environmental challenges. AI applications in healthcare, agriculture, and education are expected to significantly improve service delivery, making these essential services more accessible and efficient. For example, AI-powered tools can help improve medical diagnoses, optimize crop yields, and personalize educational content for students across the country. The focus on sustainability ensures that AI solutions are not only effective in the short term but also contribute to long-term national development and by integrating AI into its development agenda, Sri Lanka is positioning itself to build a more equitable and prosperous society for future generations.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s National AI Strategy is an ambitious and forward-thinking blueprint for integrating AI into the nation’s development framework and by focusing on inclusivity, transparency, ethical development, and sustainability, Sri Lanka is setting a strong foundation for responsible AI governance. The emphasis on fostering AI literacy and creating a culture of ethical AI development ensures that the country is not just adopting AI, but doing so in a way that benefits all citizens and Sri Lanka’s such strategic approach will serve as a model for other nations seeking to harness AI for good.