Experts urge inclusive AI benefits in philanthropy amid China's tech advancement

With new technologies like artificial intelligence changing people's way of living and working, experts in sector of philanthropy have called for more attention from both employers and the government to let more people benefit from technology advancement.

"I'm impressed by how AI is advancing in China, and how it is being applied to climate change, education, health and philanthropy," Shaun Seow, CEO of Philanthropy Asia Alliance, said during an interview with China Daily on Thursday. "These are key learnings we hope to gain from China."

He said that the PAA wants to better understand how AI is shaping people's lives and the future of work, and what schools, employers, and policymakers can do to keep pace with rapid AI development.

Yang Bin, vice chancellor of the Tsinghua University Council, noted that technology advancement has also brought new challenges for some people who can't catch up with the digital revolution, and make themselves "disadvantaged". Yang is also a professor at Tsinghua's School of Economics and Management and the dean of Tsinghua's Institute for Sustainable Social Value.

He stressed the importance of philanthropy against the backdrop of rapid AI development, saying that philanthropy can help the "new disadvantaged people" by training them and balance different parts of the whole society.

Seow highlighted the need to ensure that people at risk of being left behind have access to digital devices, including basic mobile phones, and that the necessary digital public infrastructure is in place. He added that challenges remain, including ensuring that new applications benefit everyone and that languages spoken by smaller populations are adequately represented in AI models.

Yang Bin, said that China's digital technological advancement makes the nation's philanthropy operated in a more modern way. "For example, many Chinese platforms build up philanthropy digital infrastructure which helps Chinese people to get easier access to doing good things," he said.

In addition to setting up platforms for average people to perform meritorious deeds, technology companies in China usually use their core technology for social contributions, Yang added. "For example, WeChat, who uses its technology for earth alert function."

Seow also highlighted China's achievements in philanthropy and efforts in recent years to strengthen social security policies, noting that they are well designed to prevent people from falling through the cracks.

He said that Chinese philanthropists are thoughtful in their approach and adept at amplifying impact and scaling results quickly.

"I like the way China is thinking about AI, to make lives better, to make the planet better," Seow said. "And these are things that we want to learn (from) and adapt for the rest of the world."

Zhang Xinyi contributed to the story.