The Global BrainTrust, a grassroots coalition representing a diverse range of voices, has been established to provide a human-centered perspective on the rapid and unrestrained rollout of artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative aims to ensure that the global community, not just technologists and policymakers from the West, has a say in how AI impacts society.
The coalition includes leaders from various industries and communities across different countries, emphasizing the importance of including viewpoints from all walks of life. Notably, the Global BrainTrust actively involves Generation X, who are currently on the periphery of the AI debate yet stand to be significantly affected by its evolution.
"Artificial intelligence impacts everyone and will transform our entire world. Our aim is that viewpoints of the rest of the world are taken into consideration, not just those of technologists and policymakers in the west," said Sana Bagersh, Founder of the Global BrainTrust. She stressed the importance of incorporating perspectives from people of different ethnicities, religions, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Bagersh added, "The AI debate has to date been dominated by technologists who dazzle us with the incredible transformative power of artificial intelligence, and also by policymakers who appear to be struggling to make sense of it, let alone regulate it. We deeply appreciate the tremendous positive impact of AI on human life, but our aim with The Global BrainTrust is to present the voice 'on the ground,' of 'Everyman' and 'Everywoman,' so to speak, who are being affected by it in their lives. We know such representation is ambitious and may not be entirely possible, but we intend to come as close as we can to doing it."
The brain trust plans to share its insights through statements and communiques to help those in power address the concerns of the consortium and mitigate the risks associated with AI's rapid deployment and proliferation.
Professor Ahmed Banafa, the Global BrainTrust's Senior Technology Advisor, emphasized the coalition's role as a mechanism for drawing input from a wide range of stakeholders, including technologists, developers, policymakers, artists, and community champions. "This diverse assembly of voices and perspectives will grow in size to reinforce representation. It will hopefully be a great resource to access balanced and diverse viewpoints on critical AI-related issues impacting people," he said.
Banafa explained that the coalition would prioritize human welfare and societal benefit in its insights. Topics currently under review include the potential damage caused by AI hallucinations to businesses and individuals, the breadth and impact of imminent job losses, early warnings that AI could potentially deceive humans, and the erratic regulatory approach to safeguard AI.
Gabriella Kohlberg, Government Development Economics Advisor at the Global BrainTrust, highlighted the coalition's long-term vision: "We are humanity, and we want to ensure our world will prosper on this transformative journey towards a better future that we will hopefully leave to our children. This brain trust is intended to leverage the collective wisdom of users, and our aim is to provide valuable input to public and private sector stakeholders."
Katherine Shulock, Public Health Advisor at the Global BrainTrust, added, "The BrainTrust invites collaboration. Through engaging community-minded leaders from diverse fields and industries, we hope to bring a human-centered and equity lens to critical conversations around AI today."
The formation of the Global BrainTrust marks a significant step towards ensuring that the rapid advancement of AI technology incorporates a wide range of human perspectives, ultimately aiming for a more inclusive and equitable future.
