Foundational Principles of AI Governance and Policy

This edited volume provides a structured analysis of AI governance principles, challenges, and implementation strategies. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives and global case studies, the volume offers actionable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and academics.

The book is organized into four parts, each addressing critical dimensions of AI governance and policy. Part I lays the foundational understanding of AI from a policy and governance perspective. Part II examines the positive potential of AI, focusing on how standardization, talent cultivation, and global cooperation can enable AI to address pressing global challenges. Part III addresses the ethical, legal, and security challenges AI poses. It provides a critical analysis of the risks associated with AI deployment, including issues related to warfare, disinformation, and regulatory gaps. Part IV focuses on the necessity of international cooperation and the development of global governance frameworks for AI.

This book serves as a foundational resource for stakeholders seeking to understand and navigate the complexities of AI governance.

Ann Fitz-Gerald is the Director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs and a Professor in the Political Science Department at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is also the Director of the Balsillie Executive Institute and leads on the delivery of the Technology Governance Initiative, which supports capacity building for digitalized and technology-driven public policy. Ann is widely published on issues concerning conflict, and national security and defence policy. She is a Senior Research Associate at the Royal United Services Institute in London and a Board member of the Ditchley Foundation (Canada). In 2013, Ann was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contribution to post-conflict resolution and national policy dialogue - and, in 2024, was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her research leadership.

Vijay Ganesh is a professor of computer science at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Vijay’s primary area of research is the theory and practice of SAT/SMT solvers, and their application in AI, software engineering, security, mathematics, and physics. More recently he has started working on topics at the intersection of learning and reasoning, especially the use of machine learning for efficient solvers, and the use of solvers aimed at making AI more trustworthy, secure, and robust.

Jatin Nathwani, Professor and Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy for Sustainable Energy, is the founding Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) at University of Waterloo (Canada). His research interests include energy policy developments, entrepreneurial business innovations for sustainable energy solutions, life-cycle risk management of energy systems, decision-frameworks for managing life safety risks and assessment of strategies and policy instruments for achieving environmental objectives.

Maral Niazi is a Ph.D. student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo and the former Digital Policy Hub doctoral research fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation with a multidisciplinary background in political science, human rights, law and global governance. Her research is on the global governance of AI and emerging technologies, examining their impacts on society and humanity.

Münür Sacit Herdem is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Adıyaman University, Turkiye, and an Adjunct Faculty member in the Management Science Department at the University of Waterloo. He is also a Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) and is leading the development of the forthcoming Energy Technologies Governance Laboratory. Currently, his research integrates technology, physical sciences, policy, and governance to address critical issues in the clean energy transition, energy security, and access to affordable energy.