A senior government minister and professor in artificial intelligence (AI) and humanity has urged lawmakers to develop an inclusive regulatory regime to govern AI and foster innovation to ensure it benefits society.
In a lecture at the National Assembly Palace on November 28, Chhem Kieth Rethy, Senior Minister and Chairman of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, discussed the evolution of human-machine collaboration, stressing that while AI can be a powerful tool, it could harm society as AI is a double-edged sword.
“Text from ChatGPT is text without context or knowledge as it has no heart,” said the senior minister, who is also Distinguished Professor of AI and Humanities at Camtech University.
Kieth Rethy called for a multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration, underscoring the crucial role for parliamentarians to enact laws to protect human interests and prepare society for rapid technological advances.
“Cambodia needs to invest more efforts and resources in building national capacity in adapting to the technological revolution and making use of AI for social and economic development,” he said.
“We need to inform and educate the public about the risks associated with AI and help prepare them to responsibly use AI tools.”
In education, the professor said AI has the potential to revolutionise learning by tailoring the experience to individual students’ needs, allowing them to learn at their own pace and style.
In addition, AI-powered tutoring can offer continuous support outside classroom hours, ensuring students receive help when they need it.
Kieth Rethy also discussed the importance of critical thinking and the need for skilling and reskilling to prepare students and workers for an AI-driven society, noting that education systems must adapt to technological advances to remain relevant.
He added that frameworks derived from Buddhist teachings and the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata could help people use AI responsibly and ethically, ensuring that it develops in lines with moral values and social well-being.
The lecture was coordinated by Chheang Vannarith, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Assembly, and attended by more than 50 lawmakers and about 60 staff of the Secretariat-General.
Source: Kiri Post
