Taipei: National Taiwan University (NTU) has approved the formation of an AI and Digital Governance Strategy Task Force to address the challenges posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative, backed by President Chen Wen-chang, was sanctioned at a university affairs meeting on Saturday and aims to establish comprehensive short-, medium-, and long-term policies on AI governance at Taiwan's leading university.
According to Focus Taiwan, the task force will unite representatives from various administrative and academic units, including student representatives, to ensure that student interests are considered in AI policymaking. Distinguished geography professor Chien Shiuh-shen, one of the proposal's sponsors, emphasized the importance of focusing on the AI needs of students. He argued for equal access to AI resources, proposing measures such as a university-wide AI account authorization system, public platforms, usage quotas, and support for disadvantaged students.
The proposal advocates for treating computing power as shared infrastructure, akin to library databases, utilities, and internet services. Chien suggested that NTU should build a university-wide platform for sharing graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI computing resources, equipped with a transparent application and fee system for both students and faculty.
During the meeting, Office of Institutional Research Director Chu Hsiao-ping noted that only about 20 percent of leading research universities worldwide have adopted institution-wide AI policies, with 39 percent establishing guidelines for AI use. In contrast, most universities in Taiwan are still exploring these issues. Chu highlighted the growing institutionalization of AI governance in higher education globally, while Taiwan's regulatory framework remains incomplete despite the recent enactment of the AI Basic Act. She advised universities to develop AI strategies tailored to their own needs rather than hastily implementing broader policies.