AI for Humanity: Building a Sustainable AI for the Future

AI for Humanity

Building a Sustainable AI for the Future

Andeed Ma

James Ong, Ph.D

Siok Siok Tan

This edition first published 2024

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ISBN 9781394180318 (ePDF)

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Photo credit: Courtesy of Andeed Ma, James Ong and Siok Siok Tan

To my wife and daughter, Reeanne and Wenjing, my endless loves. This book is for you, my guiding lights.

Andeed Ma

To Yun, Damon, Kieron and Naomi: my steadfast companions through the booms and busts of my AI journey for four decades

James Ong, Ph.D

To the hidden figures of AI: the women scientists, programmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educators, whose brilliance and resilience have shaped the field of artificial intelligence.

Siok Siok Tan

Acknowledgments

The creation of this book has been a profound journey, one that would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of those around me. Dr. James Ong, my co-author, has been an unwavering source of inspiration and guidance. Together, we've delved into the depths of AI's future, sharing a vision that propels us forward with purpose. Ms. Siok Siok Tan, with her expertise and dedication, has been instrumental in shaping the book's content, adding layers of depth and clarity.

The journey of sharing our insights with the global AI community has been transformative. Conferences like the World AI Conference (WAIC) have provided platforms for us to exchange ideas and perspectives. At the heart of this endeavor lies the AI International Institute (AIII), founded by James Ong, where collaboration thrives and innovation flourishes. I'm proud to stand alongside esteemed partners like Renee Tan, whose contributions have been invaluable.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my members at the Risk and Insurance Management Association of Singapore (RIMAS), whose support and expertise have lent invaluable insights from the realm of risk management. These include Sean Chan, Er. Lee Chuen Fei, Dennis Poh, Ivy Wong, Ryan Seah, Ryan Goh, Adeline Ho, Max Lee, Tianyu Xu, Clarence Chong, Christoph Burgdorfer, Alson Boo, Ms. Nonie, and many more.

The academic community, represented by institutions like the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Singapore Management University (SMU), has embraced our work with open arms. Professors such as Nicholas Sim and Liu Wenting have not only supported our endeavors but have also integrated our book into their curriculum, enriching the educational landscape. Many others who have participated in shaping the landscape includes Professor Lye Che Yee, Yeo Lay, Guan Chong, Nicholas Gabriel Lim, Jimmy Wong, Priscilia Koh, Kenneth Yap, Ellen Goel, and all of my students from SUSS, and Michael Low, Poon Yew Keong, Sarah Yip, Valerie Wong, Jaclyn Mah, and many more from SMU, and Max Ee from Institute of Blockchain Singapore (IBS), and Samuel Teo from Aventis Graduate School.

The AI startup community that has followed me and evolved with me throughout my journey into the mission on AI for Humanity. I would like to call out and acknowledge to Ting Wei Ling, CEO and Founder of JoyForm, Koen Munneke, CEO and Founder of Ara App, Terence Mahier, Co-founder and CEO of VirtualBrain, and Professor Zhu Huafei (Andy), CEO and Founder of CipherPlus.

The global network of partners and mentors has been instrumental in shaping the book's trajectory as well as the support and encouragement they have given to me. From India to the United States, from the United Kingdom to South Africa, each voice has added a unique perspective, enriching the narrative with diversity and depth. These include Vibhav Mithal from Anand and Anand in India, Ryan Carrier at ForHumanity in United Kingdom, Will Snell at Fairness Foundation in United Kingdom, Njabulo Nzimande, Managing Director at Exponential Tech South Africa, Curt Doty, Founder of RealmlQ in the United States, George Wong, Country Manager for The Sandbox in Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia, Galeno Chua, Founder of Leading with Empathy in New Zealand, Wendy Clarke, Senior Consultant at Farrow Jamieson in New Zealand, Justin Lim, CEO and Co-founder of Quashed in Auckland, and some of my ex-colleagues in ByteDance who has supported me such as Sean Chan, Eric Moo, and Divyanshu Jimmy. A special thanks to my mentor, boss and friend, Lawrence Chua who has been a great source of inspiration as well as a guiding light to me during days when it is tough.

To my dear friends, Melvin Ang and Aloysius Ang, your unwavering support has been a beacon of light on this journey. And to my beloved wife, Reeanne, and daughter, Wenjing, your unwavering belief in me has fueled my determination to see this project through. Reeanne, your tireless efforts in managing our household and our migration have afforded me the focus needed to bring this book to fruition. Wenjing, your creativity and encouragement, evidenced by your endorsement video and curated soundtracks, have infused this project with renewed energy and inspiration.

To each and every individual mentioned, and to countless others not named, your support, guidance, and belief in this endeavor have been the driving force behind its completion. This book is a testament to our collective effort and unwavering commitment to shaping the future of AI. Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for being a part of this journey.

–Andeed Ma

This book is a testament to the profound impact of the incredible individuals I've had the privilege of interacting with over the past four decades, spanning continents and disciplines. From my formative years at the University of Texas at Austin to my endeavours across various organizations and institutions, their wisdom, mentorship, and collaboration have shaped both my personal and professional trajectory.

At UT Austin, I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my Ph.D. advisor, Professor Ronald Lee, and the members of my doctoral committee, Michael Mannino and Eleanor Jordan. Additionally, I am indebted to my Master advisor, Krzysztof Apt, and the esteemed professors who imparted invaluable knowledge during my tenure, including Elaine Rich, John Werth, Avi Silberschatz, Hank Korth, Gordon Novak, Kanianthra Mani Chandy, Glenn Downing, and many others. My fellow Ph.D. students, KT Chen, Jim Baty, Young Ryu, Ho Guen Lee, Sandy Dewitz, and Thomas Lin, with whom I engaged in countless brainstorming sessions, also deserve acknowledgment for their camaraderie and intellectual exchange.

During my tenure at the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC), I was fortunate to work alongside world-class scientists who served as guiding lights in my AI journey. My mentors, Carlo Zaniolo, Shalom Tsur, Tony O'Hale, Danette Chimenti, and Darrel Woelk, along with esteemed colleagues such as Ruben Gamboa, Faiz Natraj Arni, C. Unnikrisnan, Pat Lincoln, Roger Nasr, Kevin Greene, Sergio Greco, Leona Slepetis, Haixun Wang, Wei-Min Shen, Bharat Mitbander, Christine Tomlinson, Nigel Jacob, Michael Huhns, Phil Cannata, Tomasz Ksiezyk, Greg Meredith, Munindar P. Singh, Nigel Jacobs, Greg Lavender, Hemendra Talesara, Amit Sheth, and Christopher Wood, played instrumental roles in shaping my understanding of AI research and its applications. Other prominent scientists at MCC who have indirectly and profoundly impacted me include Ravi Krishnamurthy, Shamim Naqvi, Francois Bancilhon, Catriel Beeri, Oded Shmueli, Doug Lenat, Won Kim, Herb Schwetman, Francesca Rossi, and Raghu Ramakrishnan, serving as great references and role models for dedication to world-class scientific research.

Transitioning to Trilogy marked a pivotal moment in my career, where I immersed myself in the entrepreneurial world of AI startups. The collaborative spirit and relentless dedication of the founding team—Joe Liemandt, Chris Porch, Christine Jones, Tom Carter—and a multitude of talented colleagues propelled me to new heights in AI commercialization, including John Price, Steve Milton, Wade Monroe, Pat Kelly, Ajay Argawal, Emil Hatz, David Frank, Paul Vaugh, Ahmed Gheith, Tom Wilbur, Marc Smith, Larry Selig, Scott Francis, Marc Davis, Laural Dholakia, Raymond Beaumont, Dave Middleton, Seth Krauss, Doug Gray, David Newton, Win Bo, Rohit Namjoshi, Timothy Darr, Amit Malhotra, Lee Xiang Shen, Kevin Gilpin, Tom Dillon, Scott Sehlhorst, Jim Rudden, Wanda Kay Rudden, Darin Hicks, Christine Hicks, Jason Weiss, Scott Snyder, Stu Liebowitz, Nirad Sharma, Shawn Smith, Paul Rogers, Stephan Schwarze, Chris Hyams, Paul Andersen, Neeraj Gupta, Matthew Glotzbach, Adam Cotner, Marc Ostryniec, Cyrus Mystery, Jeff VanDyke, Sachin Patodia, Misha Weinberg, Ben Kutler, Matt Sigman, Lelah Manz, Jonathan Berkowitz, Jade Roysill, Richard Barnett, Gary Owens, Rocky Smith, Safwan Aly, Ali Sheriff, Magd Dona, Brent VerWeyst, Joseph Yang, Kevin Teo, Keith Toh, Sebastian Good, Danielle Royston, Sudhir Kandula, Chad Bockius, Kevin Willis, Jeff Bolke, Heather Brunner, Debrorah Vollmer Dhalke, Phil Gilbert, Brian Driesse, Sameer Dholakia, Sonu Panda, Kama Kirpalani, Cindy Lo, Bobbi Khommineni, Jimmy Ogden, Chris Connors, Rui Wang, Thad Hwang, Damion Heredia, Jamie Buckley, Kim Le, Sue Nelson, Linda Cortes, Bijoy Goswami, Abraham Ray, Scott Royston, Amy Torri, Jeff Daniel, Graham Hasselroth, Jamie Sidey, Leo Ramirez, Alex Bentley, Patrick Nichols, Matthew Zubiller, Farhan Thawar, Runako Godfrey, Leon Gullermo, Jay Kamm, Kirsta Glotzbach, Jeremy Wacksman, Truman Fenton, Dan Caroll, Chris Taylor, Ben Cohen, Ryan Cush, Vinaya Valloppillil, Michael Norman, Allan Drummond, Lance Jones, Ben Zaniolo, Alex Victoria, Hope Best, Rich Rao, Eric Futoran, Curt Richtermeyer, Steve Goldsmith, Andy Maag, Scott Brighten, Eve Phillips, Davin Cushman, and many others, whose names, although numerous, are each a testament to their vital contributions. They have all possessed the energy and perseverance to dream audaciously and consistently execute and deliver on many ambitious and innovative AI enterprise software projects.

At the Artificial Intelligence International Institute (AIII), I've had the privilege of engaging with a diverse array of thinkers, innovators and executors, whose insights and actions continue to inform and advance our collective pursuit of Sustainable AI for Humanity. Among these exceptional individuals, I must extend special gratitude to my esteemed co-authors of this book, Andeed Ma and Siok Siok Tan. Their invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication have been pivotal in shaping my thinking and navigating the complexities of this interdisciplinary project. I deeply appreciate their courage, resilience, and insightful viewpoints, which were instrumental not only in laying the foundation of our collaboration before the launch of ChatGPT but also in adeptly maneuvering through the surge of AI interest that accompanied its release. Their steadfast commitment has been integral to the success of this endeavor, and I am profoundly grateful for their partnership.

Additionally, I am indebted to a multitude of individuals whose names fill the annals of my journey. From industry leaders to academic luminaries, each one has left an indelible mark on my understanding and vision. Their collective wisdom and unwavering support have contributed immensely to the evolution of my thinking and the articulation of the concepts within this book. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to every individual mentioned, including John Cai, Renee Tan, Woei Yuan Seng, George Lu, Saiya Deng, Alan Lim, Vicki Chen, Patient Lu, Jenny Zhu, Daryl Lee, Sim Chee Tiong, Darren Khoo, Derek Chia, Bill Tan, Sim Yah Bing, Liao Ming, Chen Tao, Di Yao, Ben Wong, Julien Lai, Li Ming, Samuel Tan, David Ong, Chua Lee Beng, Ong Yew Soon, Tony Quek, Kang Ming Chow, Roy Lee, Lim Kwan Hui, Simon See, Yan Shui Cheng, Ng Aik Beng, Ho Seng Beng, Huang Guang-Bin, Francesca Rossi, David Lee, Otthein Herzog, Ben Tian Feng, Hu Zheng Kun, Ron Howard, Tao Yong, Ivor Tsang, Li Xiaoli, Chong Yoke Sin, Lim Chwee Teck, Terence Hung, Terence Ow Thong-Hwee, Wong Tien Yin, Yow Wei Quin, Chiew Ming Hui, Clemence Tan, Felix Tan, Harish Pillay, Steve Hoffman, Kevin Teo, Elaine Liew, Catherine Khaw, Leung Mun Kew, Clara Lee, William Lee, Ng Hwee Tou, Maisy Ng, Cheong Wei Yang, William Wan, Toh See Kiat, Jeffrey Lim, Pauline Erica Tay, Eugene Noh, Cindy Ngiam, Logaiswaran Chandrasegaran, Qiu Hao Min, Jason Ng, George Qiao, Michael He, Michael Low, Jack Sim, Boh Wai Fong, Elaine Liew, Catherine Khaw, Koo Seng Meng, Gustavo Liu, Harry Huo, Kevin Leung, Yew Hock Meng, Anthony Chong, Michael Tan, Mohamad Nor Azman Hassan, Aini Zuzana Arrifin, Tenku Azul, Victor Lo, Mac Hep, Stephen Lai, Tim Low, On Lee, Hammam Riza, Hermawan Kartajaya, Iwan Satiawan, Nurul Qomariyah, Wulan Danoekoesoemo, Neil Zhu, Duan Wei Wen, Duan Yu Cong, Chen Yi Xiang, Nancy Chen, and Iris Guan, and countless others who have generously shared their knowledge and insights.

To all those mentioned and the countless others whose names fill the annals of my journey, I offer my heartfelt appreciation. Your influence, support, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been the driving force behind this endeavor. May this book serve as a tribute to our collective pursuit of knowledge and progress and contribute to the advancement of AI for Humanity!

–James Ong, Ph.D

Years ago, I had the idea to crowdsource a documentary about Twitter (now X) using social media. It seemed a brilliant idea–until it wasn’t. What I thought would take six to nine months stretched into three years. Crowdsourcing a film is hard, especially in the late 2000s before ‘crowdsourcing’ became mainstream.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is hard too, particularly if the subject is as complex and rapidly evolving as AI. I owe a debt of gratitude to my co-authors, James Ong, Ph.D., and Andeed Ma, for embracing me as a partner on this adventure. I have been amazed and humbled by their openness, curiosity, and grit.

Learning about AI through this collaboration with James has been an extraordinary privilege. His four decades of AI expertise infuse every element of this book with time-tested wisdom, from text to visual, from grand vision to core concepts. His dedication to sharing his insights with everyone has been profoundly moving. Similarly, Andeed transformed my understanding of AI risk and governance. Thanks to our conversations, I now see governance not as mere compliance but as a vibrant, interdisciplinary field with the potential to transform AI.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention my ‘non-human’ collaborators. Rest assured, I am not talking about aliens, monsters, or extra-terrestrial beings, but AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard (now Gemini), Perplexity for advanced search, Consensus, and Ellcit for scholarly insights—among countless others. My heartfelt thanks go to the innovators behind these AI tools that have augmented every facet of our research and creative process.

Mastering these generative AI tools was daunting, yet exhilarating. The steep learning curve brought to life the concept of Human-AI Symbiotic Intelligence (HASI), a theme we explore in Chapter 8, illustrating the synergy between human creativity and AI innovation.

Interdisciplinary collaboration, of the human or AI kind, is filled with challenges but also endlessly rewarding. I would like to thank the teachers who sparked my curiosity, particularly my Brown University professor, Dr. Meera Viswanathan, whose encouragement to engage in a lifelong ‘pursuit of understanding’ continues to guide me.

Prof V’s voracious curiosity mirrors the AI scientists we celebrate in this book, from Alan Turing to Marvin Minsky, Geoffrey Hinton to Dr. Fei-Fei Li. I am equally in awe of those pioneers who did not live to see their vision fulfilled but made seminal contributions to our understanding of AI. I think of Frank Rosenblatt, creator of the Perceptron, an early prototype of a neural network, and Douglas Lenat, founder of the symbolic AI project Cyc, and many others.

My gratitude overflows for my lifelong friends, Sera Kuek and Dr. Pamela Lim. They always regard my ‘impossible projects’ with incredulous bemusement yet offer unconditional support whenever things threaten to fall apart. And a special shoutout to Donna Yang, whose pragmatic wisdom keeps me grounded. Referring to my notorious lack of interest in food, her favorite question to me has been, Did you remember to eat today?

Amidst the creative storm of writing this book, I've indeed skipped a few meals. However, my heart is full of gratitude for the intellectual and creative banquet that has been our 'impossible project'—the AI for Humanity movement. With your help, we hope the ideas within these pages will touch every corner of our world, one human being at a time.

–Siok Siok Tan

Preface

1AI for Humanity

We wanted to open this book with a joke. It's not just any joke. But an AI-generated joke. And not just any AI, but those powerful large language models trained on a gazillion terabytes of data.

What is the joke? It is about an AI scientist, risk guru, and filmmaker walking into a bar and debating whether AI will become super intelligent and take over the world.

We tried and tried and tried. No less than dozens of times. Experimenting with different prompts. Tweaking the outcome with follow-up prompts. Nothing worked. In the end, the joke was on us.

We learned three things from this botched Generative AI experiment:

1. OpenAI’s ChatGPT model was not good at telling jokes yet.

2. All three of us did not have to… . how shall we put this delicately… The technical term is ‘domain expertise’ to guide ChatGPT to come up with better jokes.

3. To contain the risks of suboptimal outcomes, human experts need to know their stuff and understand how these ‘black box’ AI models work.

By the way, number 3 is reason enough for you to read the rest of this book.

So here we are. No joke to offer, but we are still excited to introduce ourselves. We're Andeed, James, and Siok. Contrary to any deep fake rumors, we didn't meet in a bar at the crossroads of destiny. Our paths crossed because we're all deeply involved in innovation and social impact. James and Siok have been collaborators in the China innovation scene for years. James and Andeed bonded over AI governance and how to mitigate tech risks across diverse ecosystems from Asia to Europe and Africa.

Yes, we have debated and argued about the future of AI, but not in a hipster bar. Since early 2022, well before ChatGPT's launch that November, we have engaged in spirited debates through countless Zoom calls. We've questioned our collective sanity for daring to tackle a subject as complex and ever-shifting as AI.

Sadly, we became no better at generating jokes by prompting AI chatbots. But we did grow increasingly convinced that AI for Humanity matters more than ever. And that is what we hope you’ll take away from this book.

WHY AI FOR HUMANITY MATTERS

Climate change. Pandemics. Global poverty. Humanity's future faces many daunting challenges. Amidst these, you may wonder, why should 'AI for Humanity' matter? What impact could you have on such a complex and rapidly evolving field? Fair questions. But hear us out.

AI isn’t just for tech experts and sci-fi buffs anymore. It's transforming our world in ways both exciting and terrifying. And as AI becomes ever more powerful, it touches every facet of our lives, from our jobs to our relationships and identities.

Why should you care? Because today’s AI decisions will shape the future of humanity for generations to come. AI can help us solve our most pressing challenges, but if unchecked, it can also wreak tremendous havoc.

That's where you come in. By learning about AI and its impact on society, you can be part of a movement for change. You can advocate for responsible development and demand transparency and accountability. You can help shape the future of this powerful technology. And ensure it benefits all of humanity, not just a privileged few.

You might think I'm no AI expert. How can I make a difference? Or you're an AI developer or tech executive in the trenches of the AI arms race. Pausing to ponder AI's future might feel like a luxury. Fear not. Anyone can learn about the issues and advocate for change. Your voice is more vital than you realize.

Building AI for Humanity requires different voices from various fields—computer science, engineering, ethics, governance, arts, humanities, and more. As AI permeates our lives, it's clear that no single discipline holds all the answers.

The coauthors of this book represent diverse backgrounds and expertise. Our