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AI for policymakers

Introduction

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Policymakers must therefore develop both AI literacy and policy judgment to navigate its opportunities and risks…

This course equips policymakers, government officials, and public sector leaders with the knowledge needed to understand, govern, and strategically respond to artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a foundational technology shaping economies, public services, security systems, and global power dynamics. Policymakers must therefore develop both AI literacy and policy judgment to navigate its opportunities and risks.

Professor Ajit Jaokar (University of Oxford)

Section 1 Foundation of Artificial Intelligence

Purpose : This section provides policymakers with the essential vocabulary and understanding needed to engage confidently with AI experts, evaluate proposals, and interpret policy implications.

Module 1 What Is AI? A Policymaker’s Introduction

What artificial intelligence means in practice

Types of AI systems and real-world examples

The evolution of AI technologies over time

Differences between AI and traditional software

Common myths and misunderstandings about AI

Why AI has become important now

The global AI ecosystem: governments, companies, researchers

Module 2 How AI Systems Work

The role of data in AI systems

How AI models are trained and tested

The lifecycle of AI deployment

Types of machine learning

How generative AI and language models function

The importance of computing infrastructure

Open vs closed AI systems and policy implications

Module 3 AI Capabilities, Limitations, and Risks

What AI systems do well

Where AI systems struggle

Bias and fairness challenges

Explainability and transparency issues

Safety risks and unintended consequences

Dual-use nature of AI technologies

Key terminology for policymakers

Section 2 AI for Policymakers

Purpose : This section examines how AI affects economies, societies, and governance systems, and provides policymakers with tools to regulate and manage AI effectively.

Module 4 AI and the Economy

  • AI’s impact on productivity and growth
  • Changes to labor markets and employment
  • Market concentration and competition concerns
  • Market disruption
  • Industrial policy strategies for AI
  • AI in critical infrastructure
  • Risks for developing economies

Module 5 AI and Society

  • AI in healthcare and public services
  • AI in education and social systems
  • AI and democratic processes
  • Surveillance and privacy concerns
  • Algorithmic decision-making in government
  • AI’s impact on inequality
  • Ethical issues in autonomous systems

Module 6 Regulating and Governing AI

  • Different regulatory approaches
  • Global AI governance frameworks
  • Risk-based regulation models
  • AI accountability and liability
  • Public procurement of AI systems
  • Regulatory sandboxes and auditing
  • Building national AI strategies

Section 3 The Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence

Purpose : This section explores AI as a strategic technology shaping global power relations, economic competition, and international security.

Module 7 AI and National Power

  • AI as a driver of national competitiveness
  • Military applications of AI
  • Economic statecraft and technology controls
  • Semiconductor supply chain risks
  • AI in intelligence and surveillance
  • National AI strategy comparisons

Module 8 The Global AI Race and Alliances

  • Competition between major AI powers
  • Global inequalities in AI capacity
  • Technology alliances and digital blocs
  • Export controls and global supply chains
  • Role of international organizations
  • Strategies for middle-power countries

Module 9 Future Scenarios and Strategic Outlook

  • Frontier AI and emerging capabilities
  • Long-term AI risks and safety debates
  • Possible futures of global AI governance
  • International norms and agreements
  • Building AI-ready government institutions
  • Policy simulation exercises