"In response to the shared challenges facing mankind, actively tapping into the great potential of new technologies such as AI is the key. For emerging technologies to play a major role, it is necessary to give full play to the integrated governance of the government, enterprises, and social organizations. Integrated governance should involve multiple stakeholders such as administration, technology and law to achieve comprehensive governance. The government has a large amount of data and great demands for governance, while enterprises are good at tapping the value of data and serving society. The effective coordination of the two can give full play to the potential of data and advance the growth of the digital society.”

Mr. Yang Fan, co-founder and Vice President of SenseTime, and Chairman of SenseTime Committee of Ethics

Mr. Yang Fan, co-founder and Vice President of SenseTime, and Chairman of SenseTime Committee of Ethics, said at the First Academic Committee of the Institute for AI International Governance, Tsinghua University, “I would like to extend my gratitude to Tsinghua University for inviting us. SenseTime will actively participate in the research and exploration of global AI governance. As an enterprise, our advantage is to provide researchers with real-world scenarios, rich cases, and fertile ground for verifying theoretical practice, and to make contributions for the long-term sustainable development of the AI industry.”

On the morning of April 22, 2021, the First Academic Committee of the Institute for AI International Governance, Tsinghua University (I-AIIG) was held in Conference Room 620 of the School of Public Policy & Management, Tsinghua University. Professor Yang Bin, Vice President of Tsinghua University delivered a speech. Professor Xue Lan, Dean of I-AIIG presided over the appointment ceremony, and SenseTime was invited to serve as Vice President of the I-AIIG Strategic Cooperation and Development Committee. More than 20 guests, including Academician Yao Qizhi, Academician Zhang Bo, Academician Gao Wen, Academician Dai Qionghai, Professor Gong Ke and other members, chief experts and senior consultants of the First Academic Committee, attended the conference online and offline.

Yang Bin, Vice President of Tsinghua University and Director of the Management Committee of I-AIIG, delivered a speech, and expressed his congratulations and gratitude to the academic committee members, chief experts, senior consultants, and members of the Strategic Cooperation and Development Committee. He said that this year marks the 110th anniversary of Tsinghua University, and, on April 19th, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Tsinghua University and delivered an important speech. When visiting the Tsinghua Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligence Technology, he pointed out, “Major original innovations often originate from profound fundamental research and are produced in interdisciplinary fields. Universities have natural advantages in these two aspects. We must continue our investment in fundamental research, encourage independent exploration and the courage to question existing theories and blaze a new path.” The Institute for AI International Governance has gathered a number of outstanding Chinese and international experts, scholars and entrepreneurs in the AI industry, aiming to study cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies, discuss their development and governance, and make plans for an intelligent future. It is a practical action to implement the ideas embodied in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speech; it also reflects the theme of Tsinghua University’s 110th Anniversary Celebration, "Strive for Excellence; Innovate for the Future".

Yang Bin proposed expectations for the development of the Institute, and expressed sincere hope that with the support and assistance of members and experts of the Academic Committee, I-AIIG can grow into an exchange platform for “academic discussion, talent pooling, disciplinary integration, ideological guidance, and cultural exchange”, thereby exploring new mechanisms for promoting cooperation in AI governance, and enhancing China's role in the development and governance of artificial intelligence globally.

Prof. Xue Lan, Dean of I-AIIG, announced the list of members, chief experts, and senior consultants of the First Academic Committee as well as council members of the Strategic Cooperation and Development Committee. Prof. Xue said that since its founding, I-AIIG has been committed to studying how the development and application of artificial intelligence technology impact the country, society and mankind, exploring how to establish a fair and reasonable AI governance system and order, and proposing the path and strategy for China to participate in AI global governance. To better serve the "scientific research, policy consultation and international exchange" in the field of AI governance, I-AIIG has set up the Academic Committee, chief experts, senior consultants, and the Strategic Cooperation and Development Committee, forming a high-level AI talent team with experts both in China and abroad, from within and outside the campus, and from different disciplines, and providing intellectual support for China's participation in and contribution to AI global governance.

In the panel discussion on “AI Participation in China’s Epidemic Control and Prevention”, Yang Fan, Vice President of the I-AIIG Strategic Cooperation and Development Committee and co-founder of SenseTime, expressed that, in response to the shared challenges facing mankind, actively tapping into the great potential of new technologies such as AI is the key. For emerging technologies to play a major role, it is necessary to give full play to the integrated governance of the government, enterprises, and social organizations. In the fight against the epidemic, AI technology has played a major role. For example, the SenseCare Lung CT AI-powered diagnostic software can help doctors evaluate CT images faster during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing diagnosis efficiency by more than 30%; SenseTime’s contactless temperature screening device for epidemic prevention and control is not only popular in China, but also widely used throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including thousands of stores and shopping centers of Japan's largest retail company. 

Mr. Yang believed that integrated governance should combine the system, technology, and law to achieve comprehensive multi-stakeholder governance. The government has a large amount of data and great demands for governance. Enterprises are good at tapping the value of data and serving society. The effective coordination of the two can give full play to the potential of data and advance the growth of the digital society to achieve  AI for Good. The boundary and core requirement of AI ethical risk is to develop responsible AI. In terms of governance and compliance, companies must be one step ahead in planning and acting. AI companies should also take the initiative in regulation and supervision. SenseTime is building a complete set of internal AI ethics and risk supervision and prevention control systems, and has established AI ethics-related policy databases and precedent databases. At the same time, it will continue to enhance the construction of an information security and data privacy protection management system, and establish a dynamic mechanism for management, raising the threshold for self-discipline in the industry.

Mr. Yang Fan further emphasized his gratitude to Tsinghua University for inviting SenseTime to participate in the research and exploration of AI global governance. He expressed that, as an enterprise, SenseTime will provide more real-world scenarios, typical cases and cutting-edge practices from an industrial perspective, and better integrate practice with research to promote "AI sustainable development” across the world.

The Institute for AI International Governance, Tsinghua University (I-AIIG), is a university-level scientific research institution approved by Tsinghua University in April 2020. Based on previous experience and interdisciplinary advantages in artificial intelligence and global governance, I-AIIG will conduct research on major theoretical issues and policy needs in AI global governance, thereby enhancing Tsinghua’s global academic influence and policy leadership in this field and providing intellectual support for China’s active participation in AI global governance.