Resources: Foundations of AI Governance

Exercises: Foundations of AI Governance

Resources: The AI Policy Toolkit

Exercises: The AI Policy Toolkit

Resources: How AI Systems Work

Exercises: How AI Systems Work

Resources: Proposals to Govern AI

Exercises: Proposals to Govern AI

Resources: The Promise and Perils of AI

Exercises: The Promise and Perils of AI

Resources: Contributing to AI Governance

Exercises: Contributing to AI Governance

Next steps: Programs

Resources: How AI is Governed Today

Exercises: How AI is Governed Today

Resources: Governance at Frontier AI Companies

Exercises: Governance at Frontier AI Companies

In this unit, we’ll discuss the goals governments might have and the levers they can use to achieve them.

A policy framework identifies high-level goals and lenses used to craft policy. Policy levers are tools and mechanisms that governments and organizations use to achieve specific goals. Governments have a variety of levers at their disposal to steer the development and deployment of AI systems. Policies could be scoped to control today’s AI systems, or they could try to control future ones. They could be highly targeted at specific risks or they could be broadly scoped.

Keep in mind that any framework is contentious. By setting the goals you should pursue, the authors are making value judgments and policy choices. Read these frameworks critically, considering how the author's perspective might influence their priorities.

By the end of the unit, you should be able to:
\- Evaluate different frameworks and policy levers governments use to steer AI
\- Explain the tradeoffs governments might make when balancing different priorities
\- Identify the different stages of the AI lifecycle
\- Describe the societal adaptation approach to AI governance


_Spend 15-20 minutes on this exercise_
Imagine that a policymaker is interested in learning more about the strategic priorities that their government considers as they make decisions on AI policy. 
First, pick a country to write about. We'd suggest choosing a country you have high context on, whether its your own or a country you've studied.
Review the three strategic priorities outlined below, taken from this session’s third reading:
- Driving technological innovation
- Impeding adversaries' progress
- Promoting safe deployment
In the box below, explain which of these priorities should be most important for governments. As you’re writing, consider the following:
- Which priority do you personally believe is most important?
- What factors should governments and policymakers consider while weighing competing priorities?
- Do you believe all of these are relevant to every government? Why might some be more or less relevant to specific actors?


Weighing strategic priorities

_Spend 15-20 minutes on this exercise_
In the last exercise, you chose a strategic priority that you believed was most important for governments. In the box below, describe a policy lever that a government could use to further that strategic priority. Make sure your answer explains the following:
- What is a policy lever?
- What is _your_ chosen policy lever?
- What effect do you intend it to have when implemented?
- What part of the AI lifecycle does it act on?
- How does it advance your chosen strategic priority?
- How might it affect the other two strategic priorities we’ve discussed?


Analyzing policy levers

AI Governance (2024-2025)

The AI Policy Toolkit

How AI Systems Work

The Promise and Perils of AI

Foundations of AI Governance

How AI is Governed Today

Governance at Frontier AI Companies

Proposals to Govern AI

Contributing to AI Governance