Xue Lan Photo/Zhang Hong (NBD)

From June 25th to 27th, the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum was held in Dalian, Liaoning.

At the conference site, Professor Xue Lan, Dean of Schwarzman College and Dean of Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University had an exclusive interview with National Business Daily (NBD).

Xue has emphasized the rapid pace of AI development and the inherent risks associated with the "unknown unknowns." Professor Xue also highlighted the necessity of a balanced approach to both the advancement and governance of AI.

Professor Xue pointed out that the development of AI systems should not be solely focused on increasing their power, as there are significant risks that are currently unpredictable. He stressed that while AI is advancing at an unprecedented rate, it also poses risks that are yet to be fully understood, making the "unknown unknowns" the most daunting aspect.

Regarding the displacement of human jobs by AI, Professor Xue acknowledged that the current wave of AI might be different, with the potential to replace more jobs than it creates in the near future. He suggested that policies should be formulated to assist those affected by job displacement and to foster the creation of new employment opportunities.

Furthermore, he discussed the importance of optimizing the AI system as a whole, rather than focusing solely on computational power, to narrow the development gap between China and the United States in the AI field. He also touched upon the consensus and differences in AI governance among various countries, noting that while there is a general agreement on the principles of AI for good, the specific measures vary widely due to differences in AI development levels, application scenarios, and cultural values.

In conclusion, Professor Xue advocates for a "dual-wheel" approach to AI, where development and governance progress hand in hand, ensuring that the potential of AI is harnessed responsibly and ethically.