G20 Parliamentary Forum's Artificial Intelligence Vision and the Role of Brazil's Congress

Written on October, 2023

In the legislative landscape of governance and decision-making, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into parliamentary systems heralds a transformative phase. As parliaments, the bedrock of democratic representation, grapple with this emerging technological force, they are compelled to reassess their conventional modalities. The integration of AI into traditional realms offers both potential benefits and hurdles, paving the way for enhanced governance while also prompting important discussions on the ethical and practical aspects of this fusion.

The annals of parliamentary history are replete with instances where technological advancements have precipitated significant shifts. One such seminal moment was the advent of the writing machine. This was not just a shift in the mode of documentation but represented a broader change in the dynamics of information processing, storage, and dissemination. The efficiency it brought to administrative tasks allowed for more robust record-keeping, setting a precedent for future technological inclusions within parliamentary operations.

P20 and the Joint Statement

The topic of Artificial Intelligence was the topic in one of the most important inter-parliamentary forums around the globe. The P20, or Parliamentary Speakers' Summit, is a forum that brings together the Speakers of Parliament from the G20 countries, as well as guest countries. It was established in 2010 to provide a parliamentary dimension to global governance and to ensure that the voices of parliaments are heard in the G20 process. The P20 plays an essential role in promoting parliamentary oversight of the G20 and in ensuring that the G20's decisions are implemented effectively at the national level. It also helps to raise awareness of global issues among the public and to build support for international cooperation.

The recent Joint Statement, following the summit hosted by the Parliament of India, underscores the commitment of the member nations to harness artificial intelligence (AI) judiciously for the greater good. The declaration emphasises the aspiration to wield AI for public welfare, addressing challenges with a focus on responsibility, inclusivity, and a human-centric approach. Central to this mission is the unwavering dedication to human rights, transparency, explainability, fairness, and accountability. Moreover, the statement accentuates the importance of regulating AI, ensuring safety, fostering ethical considerations, mitigating biases, and steadfastly upholding privacy and data protection standards. This comprehensive approach highlights the commitment of P20 nations to navigate the complex terrains of AI responsibly, ensuring that technological advancements serve everyone equitably.

Current Usage of AI in Parliaments

AI's presence in contemporary parliaments isn't merely theoretical; it's profoundly practical. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the very essence of parliamentary systems worldwide, moving them from traditional paper-centric models to advanced, digitised ecosystems. This transformation is most evident when we delve into the intricacies of how AI has melded with some main parliamentary systems:

Historical Archives:

Historical legislative documents are akin to time capsules, preserving the ethos and priorities of bygone eras. Yet, with the dawn of AI, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology has become a game-changer. It digitises these invaluable texts, converting scanned papers, images, or PDFs into editable, searchable formats. This technological leap, augmented by AI, tackles challenges like low-quality document recognition or deciphering intricate fonts, bridging the gap between the past's tangible records and today's digital reality.

Hansard:

The Hansard, which serves as the official record of parliamentary debates in Britain and certain Commonwealth nations, has similarly been touched by AI's innovations. Historically, stenographers diligently transcribed these debates. Now, with AI-driven speech recognition, transcription can occur in real-time. This not only expedites the availability of records but, coupled with AI's capability to categorise and index vast volumes of data, makes retrieval a breeze.

Distribution of Thematic Documents to Committees and to the Specialised Legislative Counsel:

The distribution of legislative proposals to committees is another domain witnessing AI's influence. In the past, each document was manually interpreted and allocated, a process susceptible to bias and inefficiencies. Today, AI streamlines this, analysing the text content of proposals and automating their distribution based on advanced techniques like Natural Language Processing, Text Clustering, and Machine Learning Classification. This not only enhances accuracy, but also minimises human-induced biases.

Parliamentary websites:

Parliamentary websites, the primary interface between legislative bodies and citizens, are also reaping AI's benefits. With vast data uploaded daily, AI algorithms step in to categorise, tag, and index content, from news articles to legislative proposals. Enhanced by AI, these websites can now offer thematic pages, aggregating content by theme and even tailoring news feeds based on individual user interests.

Legislative Drafting:

Lastly, the intricate task of legislative drafting is undergoing a revolutionary shift. While the crafting of legislation remains inherently human, AI augments the process, especially in the realm of legal research. With legislative texts stored in standardised formats like XML/ Akoma Ntoso, AI-powered tools can extract relevant information with unprecedented efficiency. Data visualisation, another AI forte, translates complex datasets into intuitive visuals, aiding legal experts in their drafting endeavours.

In summation, AI's integration into parliamentary systems heralds a new age of efficiency, accuracy, and dynamism. As AI tools continue to evolve and meld seamlessly with legislative processes, the promise of a more responsive and transparent parliamentary system beckons.

Challenges and Cautions on AI's Implementation

The promise of AI in parliamentary processes comes with inherent challenges, especially concerning privacy and confidentiality. As parliaments handle vast amounts of sensitive data, it's vital to ensure AI tools prioritise the protection of this information. Balancing the efficiency benefits of AI with stringent data protection needs calls for robust regulatory frameworks. To address the intricacies of AI integration while maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of parliamentary procedures, it's crucial to have transparent data guidelines, regular reviews, and a committed emphasis on AI committees.

Keeping AI-Powered Parliaments Human-Centric

However, this march towards a technologically-driven parliament is not without its challenges. 

The challenge lies in leveraging AI's strengths while ensuring that it doesn't erode the human-centric essence of democratic representation.

The equilibrium between tradition and innovation is delicate. While AI offers efficiency and data-driven insights, there's an intrinsic value in human judgement, intuition, and the nuances of interpersonal interactions that machines can't replicate. 

Brazil Spearheading this Discussion in 2024

Brazil will host a high-level discussion around the application and regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Parliaments in 2024, in the context of the G20 meeting taking place in the Country. The think tank Bússola Tech will host a high-level conference about this topic, with representatives from the Member Parliaments, as well as to observe Parliaments, with their technical staff and Members of Parliament. The current usage of artificial intelligence has reached a point where it not only needs to be regulated by Parliaments, but also is intertwined with the legislative process itself. 

Furthermore, it's noteworthy to highlight that Brazil's Congress has been at the forefront, leading the charge in the vanguard of AI's implementation in parliamentary operations, setting a benchmark for parliaments around the globe for years.

In the rapidly evolving digital age, the confluence of AI and parliamentary systems signifies not just technological progress but a deeper evolution in democratic governance. As AI reshapes the traditional contours of parliamentary operations, it's crucial to tread with both ambition and caution. While we harness its unparalleled capabilities to enhance transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness, we must remain anchored in the principles of democracy, ethics, and human-centricity. The journey ahead is not just about integrating technology but about reimagining a future of our time-honoured institutions. Technology serves the ideals of democracy, ensuring that every voice is heard, every concern is addressed, and every decision is taken with the collective good at heart.