Artificial Intelligence, AI, is changing the way humans work, communicate, and live as the world becomes increasingly advanced in terms of technology. The concept is relatively new for a developing country like Bhutan but it is necessary to navigate the fast-changing technologically driven world. Well-intended initiatives, in any form, to educate the Bhutanese population about the emergence of AI and its impacts on human lives will play a crucial role in ensuring that Bhutanese can navigate the evolving AI landscape. A group of Bhutanese who have formed a network called the Bhutan AI Society is working towards creating a thriving AI community to foster dialogues and networking.
Images, audio, and videos created using Generative AI are taking the Internet by storm. While many use the technology’s capabilities for a good cause or entertainment purposes, some create indecent content to defame people mostly on social media.
Some can identify AI-generated content but many cannot due to a lack of AI literacy as the technology is new to the vast majority of Bhutanese netizens.
The Bhutan AI Society intends to address this by educating the public through comprehensive AI literacy.
The group’s founder, Kuenzang Tobgay, says they have four focus areas, which include forming a thriving AI community that will encourage dialogues, networking, and knowledge sharing by bringing together people from all walks of life.
“Focus number two is informing the public on the impact of AI and it is also to advocate and create awareness on the effects of AI. Focus number three is on policy innovation to complement the work being done by the government. So, through our survey, case study, and works of literature we will provide evidence data backed up findings for inclusive policy formulation. The last one is whatever dialogues happening within the community, we will be focusing on converting these dialogues, the outcomes, and the talks into creating a real useable tool that will benefit the public,” says Kuenzang Tobgay.
The Bhutan AI Society plans to have its first members meet towards the end of this month to plan immediate activities needed for AI advancement in the country.
“Now that the digital economy is a reality, Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), and a lot of other new technologies are going to be the ones going forward. We need to come together. AI for good is something I am going to look forward to and learn from the members in Bhutan society and elsewhere,” says Kezang, a member of Bhutan AI Society.
“AI is recently picking pace in the country across different age groups knowing the benefits derived from AI. I expect to learn how AI will benefit us and how it will guide individuals in fulfilling their goals soon,” said Tshering Phuntsho, Member, Thimphu (ENG)
The group has also initiated providing training on using basic AI tools.
Being a newly formed community, the group currently lacks baseline data or information in Bhutan. So, the group is seeking collaborations with Civil Society Organisations.
The Bhutan AI Society is collaborating with the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy, BCMD, to create AI literacy. The BCMD has submitted a project proposal to its donors.
Interns (Tshering Wangmo, Tshering Yuden, Sherub Yangchen)
Edited by Phub Gyem
