New report outlines steps to better harness AI amid widespread implementation
Hong Kong's Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) is recommending the establishment of an AI governance committee in organisations amid the growing implementation of AI systems.
The committee should be established to "steer the implementation of the AI strategy and oversee the procurement, implementation, and use of AI system," according to the PCPD.
It should have oversight across the business and see the participation of senior management and interdisciplinary experts.
"A cross-functional team with a mix of skills and perspectives should be established, including business and operational personnel, procurement teams, system analysts, system architects, data scientists, cybersecurity professionals, legal and compliance professionals (including data protection officer(s)), internal audit personnel, human resources personnel, and customer service personnel," the PCPD said in its recent report.
It should also have the following elements:
- Clear roles and responsibilities for different divisions or personnel
- Adequate resources in terms of both finance and manpower
- Effective internal reporting mechanisms for reporting any system failure or raising any data protection or ethical concerns to facilitate proper monitoring by the AI governance committee
According to the PCPD, organisations can also tap on external experts for independent AI and ethics advice, as well as independent reviews when a project is "sufficiently large" and may have considerable impact.
[Insert image: AI governance committee]
Source: Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework
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AI governance strategy
The establishment of an AI governance committee is one part of a bigger internal strategy recommended in the PCPD's Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework report.
The PCPD's report, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, was released as AI tools are becoming widely integrated into workplaces across Hong Kong. A recent report from Amazon Web Services showed that 84% of Hong Kong employers are using AI-powered tools in 2023, with this number expected to rise to 94% by 2028.
Ada Chung Lai-ling, Hong Kong's privacy commissioner for personal data, said the model framework provides "internationally well-recognised, practical, and step-by-step recommendations to assist organisations in harnessing the benefits of AI while safeguarding the personal data privacy of individuals."
"I believe that this Model Framework will help nurture the healthy and safe development of AI in Hong Kong, facilitate Hong Kong's development into an innovation and technology hub, and propel the expansion of the digital economy not only in Hong Kong but also in the Greater Bay Area," Chung said in the report.