CBPP Welcomes NZ Harkness Fellow Sarah Box for MBA Lunch & Learn

Posted in News

On October 30, 2024, the Center for Business and Public Policy welcomed Sarah Box, the 2024 New Zealand Harkness Fellow and digital policy expert from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, for an insightful session entitled “AI Governance: Choices and Constraints for a Small Country.” Addressing an engaged audience, Box explored New Zealand’s pragmatic approach to AI regulation, which must account for both the potential of AI-driven productivity and innovation as well as the nation’s resource constraints and public apprehensions about AI technologies.

Box highlighted New Zealand’s three-pronged strategy: encouraging AI adoption to boost innovation, implementing light-touch regulations to unlock growth while mitigating risks, and aligning with international AI principles to maintain global cooperation. The session delved into the challenges New Zealand faces as a “fast follower” in AI, striving to balance its tech aspirations with regulatory caution amid a rapidly advancing AI landscape dominated by global players.

In closing, Box drew comparisons with AI policy experimentation in the U.S., sparking discussions on New Zealand’s distinct position as both a tech adopter and a potential innovation testbed. The conversation underscored New Zealand’s commitment to fostering responsible AI growth while remaining agile in a complex, evolving digital environment. If you couldn’t join us this time for our Lunch & Learn series, where we provide free lunch and insightful conversation, stay tuned for our next event!