Initiating the Global AI Dialogues: Laypeople Perspectives on the Future Role of genAI in Society from Nigeria, Germany and Japan

Research Background and Issues

• Issues and Challenges: Currently, policy discussions on generative artificial intelligence (genAI) are primarily focused at the expert level, with public perspectives and needs being overlooked. The rapid development of genAI may lead to a "socio-technical gap" between technological advancements and societal needs. For instance, there is a significant disparity between the anticipated uses of genAI by tech companies and the actual needs of the public.
• Significance: genAI is rapidly transforming various domains such as education, public services, and the arts, having profound societal impacts. However, deploying this technology without public involvement may exacerbate social inequalities and pose risks of potential misuse.
• Research Motivation: This study aims to address the lack of public participation by collecting and analyzing the perspectives of laypeople across different countries to help shape future applications of genAI that hold greater societal value.

Solutions

• Methods and Solutions:
  • The research team conducted 6-hour or 3.5-hour public dialogue workshops in Nigeria, Japan, and Germany, focusing on the theme of "The Future Role of genAI in Education, Public Services, and Arts & Culture."
  • Using participatory design methods (including risk assessment and backcasting), laypeople collectively envisioned an ideal future and explored measures to ensure the realization of societal value.
• Innovations:
  • A global, multi-country comparative study: Investigating public perceptions and needs regarding genAI across different cultural and technological contexts.
  • Incorporating non-expert perspectives through participatory design methods to bridge the socio-technical gap.
• Implementation Steps and Key Techniques:
  1. Participants were introduced to the basic principles and risks of genAI.
  2. The team guided participants to envision future scenarios using "what-if" hypotheses.
  3. The public developed actionable measures through brainstorming, risk assessment, and stakeholder mapping methods.
  4. Collective evaluation of discussion outcomes led to feasible recommendations for policymakers.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Achievements:
  • The value of genAI was defined as its ability to "enhance accessibility," such as improving knowledge acquisition and public service processes.
  • Seven key needs were identified, including improving technological accessibility, establishing digital literacy education, ensuring privacy protection, and promoting ecological responsibility that reflects local needs.
  • Six categories of measures were proposed to promote societal value, such as educational outreach, technological innovation, infrastructure development, and policy regulation.
• Advantages:
  • Provided cross-cultural and regional insights, revealing societal needs for genAI beyond purely technological or economic perspectives.
  • Clarified societal demands for technological development from a public perspective, bridging the gap between the public and technological advancements.
• Experimental or Evaluation Results:
  • The vast majority of participants believed that genAI could be an "acceptable part of the future" if it meets specific needs.
  • While cultural differences exist in expectations of genAI across countries, there was a consensus on the need to strengthen education and social responsibility in technology to ensure fairness.
• Limitations and Future Directions:
  1. The sample may not be evenly distributed in terms of educational background, with respondents tending to have higher levels of knowledge.
  2. The study's findings are limited to three countries, necessitating further research in more diverse social contexts.
  3. Future research should explore how policies and education can address the digital divide in genAI deployment.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The study concludes that the public generally perceives genAI as capable of creating profound societal value in education, public services, and arts and culture, provided that key issues such as technological fairness, accessibility, and social responsibility are addressed. Based on cross-national dialogues, the authors offer practical recommendations for various stakeholders (technology companies, research institutions, policymakers, and the general public):

• Technology Companies: Ensure efficient resource use, user-friendly interfaces, affordable pricing, and respect for privacy and data sovereignty in genAI systems.
• Research Institutions: Launch flagship projects to demonstrate the potential societal value of genAI.
• Policymakers: Develop dynamic regulations to ensure equitable benefits for all members of society.
• General Public: Enhance digital literacy and critical awareness of AI through education and capacity-building.

The study emphasizes the critical role of the public in AI technology development and calls for collaborative efforts among all parties to meet societal needs, fostering an inclusive and sustainable future for genAI.