AI Playbook for Small States
At the United Nations (UN) Summit of the Future Action Day (“A Digital Future for All”) held in New York, United States, on 22 September 2024, Minister of Digital Development and Information, Mrs Josephine Teo, launched the AI Playbook for Small States.
The Playbook can be downloaded by clicking the image above.
Developed in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Playbook outlines key issues and considerations for policymakers in the development, use and governance of AI, from the perspective of small states. These are supplemented with an anthology of best practices from different FOSS members and stakeholders.
We have developed this Playbook to harness the collective wisdom of Digital FOSS. In doing so, we aim to build a community of small states and other stakeholders for inclusive discussions on AI, which plays an important role in enabling countries to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Playbook contains input from Digital FOSS members representing all geographies, who have come together to share their experiences on how they had pursued AI adoption and development, considered AI governance and safety, and addressed the societal impact of AI.
Given the rapidly evolving nature of the technology, the Playbook will be periodically updated as a living document to reflect FOSS members’ collective efforts in harnessing AI for the public good.
We welcome your input on the Playbook here.
Summary of the Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) Government to Government Ministerial Dialogue on International Cooperation on Digital Governance and Digital Inclusivity
Ambassadors and senior government officials from the Digital Forum of Small States (FOSS) met on 30 May 2024 at the ATxSummit for a closed-door Government-to-Government dialogue on international cooperation on digital governance and digital inclusivity (“Dialogue”). During the Dialogue, participants emphasized the importance of digital technology for small states' development, stressing the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to address challenges such as cybersecurity threats and AI governance. They also highlighted the significance of digital inclusion and international cooperation to bridge the digital divide and support small states' advancement in the digital age. Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mrs Josephine Teo, who chaired the Dialogue, released the following Chair’s Summary:
“At the Digital FOSS Ministerial Dialogue on 30 May, we discussed the challenges and opportunities for small states in a rapidly evolving and increasingly sophisticated digital environment. There was broad consensus that digital technology was an important enabler to catalyse change and super-charge efforts towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and for small states, a multi-stakeholder approach was crucial in addressing common challenges such as cybersecurity threats, cross border data flows and the regulation of emerging technologies.”
On the governance of emerging technologies, the participants recognised that artificial intelligence was a powerful emerging technology that would benefit from a global, multi-stakeholder approach. In particular, it was important to develop fit-for-purpose regulations, standards and science-backed tools and techniques for AI governance. Collaboration across public, private, people and academic sectors, as well as between countries and regions, was crucial. The participants acknowledged the effort within Digital FOSS to work on an AI Governance Playbook tailored to small states, which would address the common challenges associated with the secure design, development evaluation and implementation of AI systems.
On addressing the digital divide, the participants noted that countries, and communities within countries, were at different levels of digital development. It was important to strengthen efforts to enable everyone to enjoy the fruits and benefits of digital technologies. A skills-focussed approach could help to equip people with the necessary capabilities to navigate digital technologies, to enrich their daily lives, and to stay safe online. Participants agreed that governments must take measures to foster digital inclusion, and ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age.
The participants agreed that this Dialogue was a useful opportunity to bring together Digital FOSS members and strengthen mutual understanding of the circumstances and challenges faced by small states. There was consensus that international cooperation was integral for Digital FOSS members to share ideas and to contribute towards the closing of the digital divide. In addition, we have to uphold multilateralism to enable small states to survive and thrive in this digital age. The participants agreed that these commonalities faced by small states should be addressed in the Global Digital Compact which is currently being negotiated at the United Nations.
Our Digital Future
Digital is changing the way we live, work and play. How can small states thrive in this digital world? How do we work together to play a bigger, outsized role internationally? Watch what our smallest (but most important!) stakeholders have to say about the role of small states in building our common digital future.
The Forum of Small States (FOSS) is an informal grouping of small states established and chaired by Singapore since its inception in 1992 to discuss issues of mutual concern. In conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of FOSS in 2022, we introduced Digital FOSS as a new pillar of engagement within FOSS. Digital FOSS will provide a platform for small states to support one another on their digital transformation journeys and work together to architect a common digital future.
Digital FOSS supports the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and efforts to establish a Global Digital Compact.
Mr Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive, IMDA, launched Digital FOSS at the 30th anniversary FOSS reception held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 24 October 2022. His remarks at the reception can be found here (163.26KB).
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