Societal AI
Societal AI: Research Challenges and Opportunities
This whitepaper explores the most critical challenges and opportunities at the intersection of AI and society and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to address these issues effectively.
Societal AI Research Agenda
To achieve a harmonious, synergistic, and resilient integration of AI into society with minimal side effects, we propose a societal AI research agenda emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration.
Societal AI Research Questions
The 10 key societal AI research questions reflect deep interdisciplinary collaboration and insights from diverse experts. These questions highlight evolving challenges and opportunities, with ongoing refinement to keep the research agenda relevant and impactful.
How can AI be aligned with diverse human values and ethical principles?
How can AI systems be designed to ensure fairness and inclusiveness across different cultures, regions, and demographic groups?
How can we ensure AI systems are safe, reliable, and controllable, especially as they become more autonomous?
How can human-AI collaboration be optimized to enhance human abilities?
How can we effectively evaluate AI’s capability and performance in new, unforeseen tasks and environments?
How can we enhance AI interpretability to ensure transparency and in its decision-making processes?
How will AI reshape human cognition, learning, and creativity, and what new capabilities might it unlock?
How will AI redefine the nature of work, collaboration, and the future of global business models?
How will AI transform research methodologies in the social sciences, and what new insights might it enable?
How should regulatory frameworks evolve to govern AI development responsibly and foster global cooperation?
At Microsoft Research Asia, we believe AI is not just a technological advancement but a transformative force reshaping societies, economies, and daily lives. Developing more powerful AI models is not enough; we must examine how AI interacts with human values, institutions, and diverse cultural contexts. Our Societal AI team has actively engaged in global collaboration with leading social scientists to create a shared vision of AI that is responsible, inclusive, and beneficial. This white paper outlines key challenges and opportunities in Societal AI, presenting a research agenda to ensure AI evolves in a way that drives progress while mitigating risks and unintended consequences. We look forward to collaborating with more experts to promote the harmonious development of AI and society.
——Lidong Zhou, Corporate Vice President, Chief Scientist of Microsoft Asia Pacific R&D Group, Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia
This white paper from Microsoft Research Asia represents a critical first step in addressing the societal implications of AI, especially large language models (LLMs), as they become more prevalent and are used for a broader range of purposes. It outlines ten essential research questions at the intersection of AI and society, covering areas such as value alignment, fairness, and human-AI collaboration. The paper’s emphasis on the harmonious, synergistic, and resilient integration of AI into society is particularly noteworthy. It highlights the need for not only technical excellence but also a deep understanding of cultural differences, human cognition, and societal structures. Looking ahead, it will be essential to develop robust oversight systems and ensure AI alignment with human safety and prosperity. This white paper lays a solid foundation for future work and sets a positive direction for responsible AI development.
——James A. Evans, Max Palevsky Professor, Director, Knowledge Lab, The University of Chicago; Faculty Director, Masters Program in Computational Social Science, The University of Chicago; External Professor, Santa Fe Institute
