Generative AI models have been a great source of contention, and the National Science Technology Council (NSTC) has also promoted the Taiwanese version of the AI language model project, allowing the rapidly developing AI technology to bring about significant innovative applications and benefits. However, the vast amounts of data generated by AI also pose new problems and risks to society and culture. This is why the Digital Trust Association in Taiwan was established. What direction will the development of AI take, and how can we create a trustworthy AI era?
Host：Ethan Liu
Speakers：
Jane Yung-Jen Hsu, Vice Coordinator of Taiwan AICoE (Taiwan AI Center of Excellence),
Nicole T.I. Chan, Chairperson of AIF (Artificial Intelligence Foundation)
Meeting Minutes
” Taiwan’s large language models have more “Taiwanese”? Making AI better understand you and be more trustworthy.”
Advantages and Strategies for AI Development in Taiwan
Chairperson Nicole T.I. Chan of AIF, pointed out that Taiwan’s semiconductor industry holds a core position in the global supply chain, providing an indispensable hardware foundation for AI development. Additionally, Taiwan’s years of accumulation in manufacturing technology have laid a solid foundation for the practical application of AI. She emphasized that AI development is not just about technological advancement; the key lies in the value creation of application scenarios. Especially in the process of digital transformation in Taiwan, AI acts as an empowering engine, assisting various industries in process reengineering and service optimization.
Vice Coordinator Jane Yung-Jen Hsu of Taiwan AICoE, stated that starting from 2023, Taiwan is actively investing in the research and development of local language models. This initiative is driven not only by technological advancement considerations but also by the need for data sovereignty and the preservation of language culture. She emphasized that Taiwan faces similar challenges in AI development. Taking ChatGPT as an example, while its success has increased public awareness of AI, it has also highlighted Taiwan’s shortcomings in AI technological autonomy. If Taiwan’s AI development becomes overly reliant on foreign technology, it may be constrained and unable to grasp the development direction of key technologies. Taiwan’s language model projects not only help enhance digital competitiveness but also mitigate the risk of bias in simplified Chinese information.
Taiwan’s continued investment in AI research and development includes adopting an open architecture strategy despite limited national resources, with the hope of absorbing foreign technologies and integrating them with Taiwan’s industrial application needs. The application prospects of AI in fields such as healthcare and manufacturing are vast, especially in addressing localized issues, where Taiwan has unique advantages. The development of AI is akin to a marathon, requiring systematic planning of technological advancement steps to ensure long-term maintenance of international competitiveness.
The Importance of Establishing Digital Trust
Digital trust is a core element in the application of AI technology. As AI technology permeates every aspect of life, whether in government, businesses, or among consumers, data governance is necessary to ensure system transparency and fairness. The application of AI technology must be based on the principle of “responsibility.” AI developers and service providers should be accountable for ensuring the transparency and accountability of AI systems, and they should strive to mitigate the risks posed by the technology.
Chairperson Nicole T.I. Chan of AIF believes that digital trust is the cornerstone of the digital economy and internet governance. She emphasized that companies should take responsibility when providing AI products and services, ensuring that the development and application of AI align with social ethics and values. Similar to the EU AI Act (European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act) , Taiwan also needs to establish corresponding laws. As a result, Taiwan has established the Digital Trust Association to promote self-regulation among companies in areas such as data governance, transparency, and algorithm ethics, covering aspects like data integrity and information transparency. The goal is to enhance digital governance, data integrity, and risk management, thereby establishing a comprehensive legal framework. This framework aims to regulate the development and application of AI and implement risk-based management for AI products and services to ensure their safety and trustworthiness.
Vice Coordinator Jane Yung-Jen Hsu of Taiwan AICoE also recognizes the importance of digital trust. She believes that in the age of AI, individuals cannot fully rely on the state or platforms to protect their rights, and should instead possess the ability to make independent judgments and choices. She suggests using technological means, such as giving true and false information different dissemination speeds, to help people enhance their responses to harmful information.
Talent cultivation in the era of AI
Both speakers emphasized that the cultivation of AI talent should extend to the development of interdisciplinary knowledge. This is crucial during the digital transformation process, as the connections between processes are very important; when processes are linked, they can provide assistance. Whether in government, enterprises, or organizations, it is particularly important for talent to encompass knowledge from various industries. As digital transformation is applied across different sectors, the development and application of AI technology rely heavily on the support of talent. AI not only requires technical experts but also domain experts familiar with various industries to help realize the value creation of digital transformation.
Chairperson Nicole T.I. Chan of AIF pointed out that in addition to production and manufacturing being crucial for creating GDP, we should make good use of AI applications in digital transformation across various fields to create greater value. We also need to consider how AI can help cultivate experts in different domains; Taiwan needs to develop interdisciplinary AI talent. Future AI professionals will not only need to be proficient in programming and algorithms but also possess cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills, enabling them to have a holistic perspective. This kind of thinking will enhance the application of AI, allowing us to implement AI technology across various fields more effectively.
Vice Coordinator Jane Yung-Jen Hsu of Taiwan AICoE approached the topic from an educational perspective, pointing out that AI is a very convenient tool. It can help you find information, organize data, and answer questions, but ultimately, the final judgment must be made by humans. Therefore, the user’s understanding and judgment of information are particularly crucial. She also emphasized the importance of AI literacy. In the age of AI, she suggested strengthening education in “critical reading,” analyzing the sources of information, and cultivating independent thinking skills. This ability is not only important when dealing with AI-generated information but also helps to avoid being misled by inappropriate information. Vice Coordinator Jane Yung-Jen Hsu of Taiwan AICoE also believes that the focus of talent cultivation should be on enabling individuals to remain calm amidst the flood of information and to master the skills needed to navigate complex situations, so they can better adapt to life and work in the AI era.
Media literacy and information discernment skills
With the rapid proliferation of generative AI, Vice Coordinator Jane Yung-Jen Hsu of Taiwan AICoE emphasized that media literacy should become a part of education. Although generative AI possesses fluent language expression capabilities, the content it generates may contain serious errors and even fabricated information. Therefore, the public needs to learn the skills to discern true from false information and should not overly rely on algorithmic recommendations to avoid being misled by false information.
Chairperson Nicole T.I. Chan of AIF suggested that when launching services, products, and information, it is important to understand the data sources behind them. Utilizing technological tools can help users enhance their discernment as a basis for judgment. Both speakers also mentioned that media literacy and information literacy are increasingly included in educational and corporate curricula. This type of “preventive education” can help the public better cope with the complexity of the information environment, enabling them to have the discernment and ability to selectively receive and absorb information, while also minimizing reliance on a single source or platform.
Governance and Regulation of AI
Chairperson Nicole T.I. Chan of AIF mentioned that when Taiwan promotes the ” Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Act,” it can draw on the European Union’s tiered management system to implement risk management through a graded approach. She noted that traditional legislative models are no longer suitable for the internet age, and regulations must be established that align with the nature of the internet and are highly executable. For instance, high-risk applications in fields such as healthcare and finance should adhere to stricter regulations to protect users’ rights. She believes that risk-based management of AI applications can help clarify the allocation of responsibilities for different types of AI technologies and their application areas, thereby ensuring public safety.
AI governance should be advanced in parallel with digital governance, thereby enhancing Taiwan’s adaptability in the era of digital transformation. She emphasized that technological development is not only a matter of the technology itself but also involves collaborative cooperation among various stakeholders. From businesses to the government, the healthy development of AI technology requires joint efforts from all sectors to ensure that the direction of AI development aligns with the interests of society as a whole.
Vice Coordinator Jane Yung-Jen Hsu of Taiwan AICoE further pointed out that the formulation of the Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Act is just the first step. A comprehensive legal framework for technology development and data governance needs to be established. Taiwan should simultaneously consider the characteristics of AI technology development and its potential risks, avoiding the limitations of a single governance approach. While the Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Act is the foundation for promoting the safe and responsible application of AI, it is even more crucial to build a regulatory framework that can adapt to changes in technological development. This framework should include key elements such as information transparency, accountability, and data privacy protection.
Both speakers believe that while Taiwan develops AI, it needs to take a multi-faceted approach by developing autonomous technology, establishing a trust environment, nurturing AI talent, enhancing media literacy, and formulating comprehensive AI governance regulations in order to stand firm in the AI era.