Vancouver's tech scene buzzed with urgency last week as global innovators at Web Summit Vancouver grappled with one pressing question: How can humanity responsibly govern artificial intelligence? Northeastern University's Bethany Edmunds emerged as a key voice, emphasizing the need for collaborative frameworks to address AI's ethical and economic implications.
"We're building tools that could reshape labor markets, privacy norms, and even geopolitical power balances," Edmunds noted during her keynote. Her warnings resonated among 2,000+ attendees, including Silicon Valley investors and Asian startup founders eyeing AI integration across manufacturing and fintech sectors.
The summit revealed growing consensus: Without multilateral governance standards, AI risks exacerbating digital divides. This concern particularly impacts Asian markets, where 60% of global AI patents originate. Edmunds highlighted Singapore's Model AI Governance Framework as a potential blueprint, while acknowledging challenges in aligning diverse regulatory approaches across the Asia-Pacific.
For business leaders, the discussions underscored both risks and opportunities. "AI could add $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030," Edmunds stated, "but equitable growth requires intentional policy design." Her call for academia-industry partnerships drew attention from researchers tracking China's AI ethics guidelines and India's national AI strategy.
