Professor Naubahar Sharif and Professor Donald Low shared Policy Insights on the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Development Program

Professor Naubahar Sharif, Acting Head and Professor of PPOL, and Prof. Donal Low,  Director of Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education, Professor of Practice of PPOL shared their insight and thoughts on issues concerning policy and regulatory framework arising out of the rapid evolution of AI technology in this year’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) Development Program of the World Economic Forum (WEF), hosted by HKUST, under the theme “Our AI-Driven Future: Prospects and Pitfalls”. Both Prof. Sharif and Prof. Low are co-lead faculty of the YGL program

During the Program, Prof. Sharif steered young global leaders on a journey to uncover the region’s vision for the next decade and discussed the national and local policies driving technocentric growth, he remarked in his speech “Technology Development and Leapfrogging in the GBA” that AI, with its transformative potential, is redefining public policy problem-solving and decision-making. However, it also presents challenges that require considered policymaking, from ethical considerations to societal impacts. As difficult as it may be, policymakers must stay ahead, understanding AI's nuances to craft responsive, effective policies for a balanced AI-driven future.

In his speech "Will Fintech Make the World a Better Place?”, Prof. Donald Low remarked, that the program encourages YGLs to delve into the ethical nuances of AI's influence on human society. They are urged to think critically about policy-making strategies within an innovation-driven economy, drawing inspiration from real-world examples in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

It is the first time HKUST has hosted the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Development Program. Around 40 influential individuals from the WEF’s YGL leadership development program gathered at HKUST.