Shanghai, China | 23–24 October 2025
The Data for Policy 2025 (DfP’25) Asia-Pacific Conference, convened at Tongji University‘s Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems (SRIIAS) with support from the Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of AI Social Governance, The AI Hub in Generative Models, Cambridge University Press and the Data & Policy journal. The event brought together around 100 researchers, and practitioners.
Under the theme “Advancing AI: Innovations, Governance, and Ethical Frontiers,” the two-day event showcased 42 presentations exploring how artificial intelligence can be developed and governed responsibly across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Discussions focused on aligning AI progress with ethical principles, transparency, and public value, reflecting the Asia-Pacific region’s growing leadership in shaping global data policy discourse.
Exploring the Frontiers of AI
The conference presentations covered five major areas defining today’s AI landscape, bridging the technical, ethical, and policy dimensions of innovation.
- Innovation and Challenges in Frontier Technologies of Artificial Intelligence: Researchers presented the latest advances in generative AI, deep learning, and intelligent robotics. Studies from The University of Hong Kong demonstrated cross-modal speech imputation and linguistic marker discovery for early Alzheimer’s detection using large language models, while the authors from Japan and Australia showcased AI-enabled sensing for healthcare and robotics. Other contributions addressed persistent challenges in model interpretability and data security, proposing more transparent and accountable systems.
- Current Status and Future of Artificial Intelligence Governance: Scholars examined evolving AI policies and frameworks across the region. The author from The University of the Philippines presented on AI-powered policymaking systems, while researchers from Tongji University analysed China’s AI governance model and its institutional integration. Papers on AI export controls, fiduciary duties, and data protection explored the fine balance between innovation, compliance, and accountability in AI governance.
- Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Social Responsibility: Ethical and societal implications took centre stage. Studies addressed algorithmic bias, automation’s impact on employment, and privacy challenges in public data use. Researchers from Peking University examined how Chinese taxi drivers adapt to automation, while others explored culturally grounded approaches to AI law in Indonesia and ethical trade-offs in automated decision-making.
- Applications of Artificial Intelligence Across Industries: Several case studies demonstrated AI’s transformative potential. Presentations covered AI-driven healthcare, including de-identification frameworks for psychiatric audio (Tongji University) and policy data analysis tools (University of Melbourne). Other examples explored AI applications in law, education, and environmental monitoring by illustrating AI’s ability to improve efficiency and transparency across sectors.
- Global Governance and Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence: As AI transcends national borders, experts called for greater international coordination on standards and ethics. A workshop panel on “Global Challenges and Dynamic Threats” chaired by Prof Wilson Wong alongside Dr Zeynep Engin (Founding Director, Data for Policy CIC) and researchers from UCL, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, HKUST discussed frameworks for managing AI risks and ensuring global interoperability in governance. Dialogue highlighted the need for shared accountability mechanisms and equitable participation from all regions by encouraging contributions to the Data & Policy journal and fostering regional scholarly networks.
Keynote Highlights: Bridging Technology, Ethics, and Policy
A defining feature of the conference was its diverse lineup of keynote speakers, each illuminating a different dimension of AI’s societal impact.
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Prof Huiling Jiang (Tongji University) opened with “Taking Justice Seriously in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” calling for governance systems rooted in human dignity and fairness.
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Prof Jamie Paik (Reconfigurable Robotics Laboratory ; EPFL) showcased “Embedded Intelligence for Adaptive Automation,” revealing how reconfigurable robotics can merge flexibility with safety in human–machine collaboration.
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Prof Weiwen Duan (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) provided an in-depth look at China’s evolving ethical governance framework, stressing the importance of integrating moral reasoning into AI development.
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Prof Lucas Noldus (Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands) explored “The European GDPR and AI Act: Implications for Behavioural Research,” analysing Europe’s approach to balancing innovation with data protection.
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Prof Jon Crowcroft (University of Cambridge; The Alan Turing Institute) reflected on “The Challenges of Governance in Federated Learning,” highlighting lessons from decades of distributed computing for managing data and accountability.
Other keynote talks by Prof Lei Ma (University of Tokyo; University of Alberta), Prof David Barber (Centre for Artificial Intelligence, UCL and The AI Hub in Generative Models, UK), Prof Lihua Xie, (Nanyang Technological University) and Prof Ruipeng Lei (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China) further examined trustworthy AI systems, biomedical data ethics, and the moral status of intelligent agents by underscoring the complexity of governing AI at both technical and philosophical levels.
The Digital Statecraft Academy: Building Capacity for Digital Governance
In a special plenary session, Dr Zeynep Engin, Founder of Data for Policy CIC and Conference General Chair, introduced The Digital Statecraft Academy (DSA)—a new global initiative aimed at equipping public leaders with the skills and frameworks needed to govern AI and digital systems responsibly. Supported by international partners, the DSA will build capacity for ethical, strategic, and resilient digital governance worldwide. Explore The Digital Statecraft Academy here.
Looking Forward: Collaboration for Responsible AI
The conference underscored several key messages for the future of AI governance:
- Cultural Context Matters: AI governance frameworks must be sensitive to local values, legal traditions, and institutional cultures. One-size-fits-all approaches risk undermining legitimacy and effectiveness.
- Trust is Multidimensional: Building public trust in AI requires attention to transparency, accountability, fairness, and ongoing dialogue between developers, users, and affected communities.
- Human-AI Collaboration is Essential: Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for human judgment, governance frameworks should emphasise augmentation, oversight, and the preservation of human agency in high-stakes decisions.
- Regional Cooperation is Critical: Transnational challenges from data flows to algorithmic accountability—require coordinated responses that respect diverse governance traditions while establishing convergent norms.
- Evidence-Based Policy is Imperative: Rigorous empirical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and open data practices are essential to inform responsible AI development and deployment.
The Data for Policy 2025 Asia-Pacific Conference demonstrated the region’s commitment to shaping a future where AI serves as a tool for empowerment, equity, and public good rather than exclusion or control. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, the event advanced the collective understanding of how to govern AI wisely in an era of rapid technological change.
Regional Vice Chair Prof Peiming Lyu (Executive Vice President of Tongji University) emphasised that the conference strengthened cross-disciplinary and international collaboration, elevating the Asia-Pacific’s influence in global AI policy discussions. The event also reaffirmed Data for Policy’s mission to connect technological innovation with societal benefit, ensuring AI supports inclusion, empowerment, and social good.
The Conference Book of Abstracts is now available via open access on Zenodo. Explore abstracts from all accepted contributions. The video presentations from full paper contributions are also accessible on the Data for Policy Youtube channel.
Keynote recordings will be available soon on the Data for Policy YouTube channel. Follow our channel to watch them as they are released.