The First International Academic Conference on Chinese Public Policy Research was held in Yingdong Academic Hall of Beijing Normal University on June 15, 2024, which gathered experts and scholars in the field of public policy from all over the world to discuss the theoretical and practical frontiers of Chinese public policy research under the global perspective. Prof. Lan Xue, co-convener of the Public Administration Discipline Review Group of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and Dean of Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, delivered a speech on the theme of "Public Policy Challenges in the Context of Artificial Intelligence".

Based on the review of the development history of AI, Prof. Lan Xue put forward two important topics for public policy research in the context of AI: "Public Policy for AI" and "AI for Public Policy".

First and foremost, public policies promoting the development of artificial intelligence need to balance advancing technological innovation with optimizing governance. Policies promoting technological innovation include those related to data, algorithms, and computing power, as well as governance policies concerning the application of artificial intelligence.

Secondly, public policies for the development of artificial intelligence also need to address potential risks, including technological, ethical, social, and governance risks. In addition, Professor Xue emphasized issues related to data privacy and cross-border data flow in AI development, as well as the challenges concerning algorithms and computing power in large models.

Another category of topics was artificial intelligence for public policy. Prof. Xue pointed out the application and impact of AI in public policy analysis and public policy process. These include the application of LLM in public policy analysis, the reshaping of the public policy system by the application of AI, and the risk prevention of the application of AI technology in the public policy process.

Professor Xue, with a rich array of case studies, vividly demonstrated the complexity and challenges of public policy in the broad context of artificial intelligence, and proposed practical suggestions on how to address the risks of artificial intelligence development and reshape the public policy system under the background of artificial intelligence, which has sparked our continuous attention and discussion on issues related to the governance of artificial intelligence in the long-term development. Finally, Professor Xue expressed his encouragement and expectation for public policy researchers to actively explore and expand research in this field.

Introduction to Keynote Speakers

Dr. Xue Lan is a distinguished Chair Professor and the Dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University, where he also serves as the Director of the Institute for AI International Governance. His teaching and research interests include global governance, crisis management, and science, technology, and innovation policy. Currently, he also serves as a Counsellor of the State Council, the chair of China’s National Expert Committee on Next Generation AI governance, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Association of Science and Technology. He is an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University, a non-resident senior fellow of the Brookings Institution, and a member of the UN CEPA and IGF Leadership Panel. Dr. Xue is a recipient of the Distinguished Young Scholar Award from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Cheung Kong Chair Distinguished Professor of the Ministry of Education, the Fudan Distinguished Contribution Award for Management Science, the Distinguished Contribution Award from the Chinese Association for Science of Science and S&T Policy, and the Second National Award for Excellence in Innovation in China.