Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs has partnered with Bank of America to start an initiative to study the societal impacts of artificial intelligence, the Kennedy School announced Tuesday. The effort, called the Council on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence, aims to bring together academics with public and private sector professionals to discuss the "legal, moral, and policy implications" of adopting AI technologies. Bank of America will fund the program for its first three years, according to a Kennedy School press release. Geology Professor Daniel P. Schrag, who is the co-director of the Belfer Center's Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, said the aim of the council will be to "figure out the rules of the road" for AI technologies in the future. Four themes that the Council will cover include "privacy," "rights, justice, and equality," "transparency," as well as "workforce," according to the press release.

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Leading figures in the field of artificial intelligence discussed its present and potential future impact on individuals and nations at the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Forum Friday. Kennedy School lecturer and national security expert Juliette N. Kayyem introduced the topic by discussing the current prevalence of artificial intelligence and the significant shifts the technology may cause in relations between various groups and industries. She noted the tensions that may arise when trying to find a role for artificial intelligence in everyday life. Panelists then discussed how artificial intelligence has influenced their particular work and society more generally. Edward W. Felten, the deputy chief technology officer of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, commented on a recent White House report that explained the challenges faced when trying to incorporate artificial intelligence into the government.