From Internet Governance to AI Governance

Abstract

The rise of the modern concept of “governance” can be understood with reference to the traditional “management” model. The traditional management model is dominated by the government, which controls society through a top-down management model. However, in this model, asymmetric information can easily lead to high management costs and inefficiencies. In the context of the development of a democratic society, the concept of governance is taking its place. Governance is a more inclusive concept, emphasizing multi-stakeholder management, democracy, participation, and interactive management. The United Nations Commission on Global Governance (CGG) has defined the concept of governance, stating that “governance” refers to “the sum of many ways individuals and institutions, public and private, manage their common affairs. It is a continuing process through which conflicting or diverse interests may be accommodated and cooperative action taken,” which includes both formal institutions and rules that have the power to compel people to obey and informal arrangements that people agree to or that satisfy people’s interests. In the framework of governance, the government is no longer the sole manager. Both the private sector and civil society, functioning as social forces, have entered the domain of public affairs management. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the government as the main forces, they play a more active role in political, economic, and social activities. At the same time, the governance model is not limited to the traditional “command-execute” style. Rather, the governance model pays more respect to society’s self-management and self-adjustment mechanisms. More gentle management methods such as consultation and guidance are also more frequently applied. As the concept of governance gradually matures, the government and social forces will take their organic interaction to the next stage, expand democratic participation, and deepen democratization through continuous dialogue and consultation, and work together to create a co-governing system of transparency, integrity, the rule of law, and responsible governance bodies.