On December 3rd, Aspen Digital and Benevolent AI Future hosted an invitation-only salon dinner with AI builders, tech investors, and public AI experts to discuss the future of AI infrastructure. The discussion explored ways that the public and private sectors can contribute to a more public AI ecosystem. Brandon Jackson gave a presentation to set the context of the conversation.

Public AI describes an approach to artificial intelligence development and use that promotes the common good. Public AI has three key features: public access, public accountability, and permanent public goods.

But how can we ensure that AI infrastructure has these three features?

In a talk on the topic, Brandon Jackson explains how treating access to AI as a public utility would create an AI ecosystem that strengthens the commons and serves everyone. Brandon’s insights are informed by his research on the history of public infrastructure, such as the BBC and US Postal Service.

Watch Video on Expanding Access to AI Models

Brandon gave this talk on AI infrastructure at the salon, which was held under Chatham House Rule.

If you’d like to get involved in our public AI work, please get in touch!

This event was made possible thanks to generous support from the Rockefeller Foundation.

Brandon Jackson is Product Lead at Metagov and a leader at the Public AI Network, where he researches business models for AI infrastructure in the public interest. His work explores how the public sector can do more than regulate technology—by actively building it. He was lead author of the Public AI Network’s white paper calling for Public AI Infrastructure, and has proposed a British AI Corporation modeled on the BBC in an essay for Chatham House. Previously, he led product teams at leading UK startups, building AI-powered education tools, consumer health products, and digital infrastructure. He holds degrees in computer science from Yale and the history of technology from Cambridge. He is based in London.