Ghazi Ahamat

MPhil Tech Policy @ Cambridge - Ethics and Governance of AI;
BCG Alum, Data Scientist, Economist, Policy Analyst

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

What divestment misses is that staying engaged is likely more effective. BHP has had external pressure on coal emissions for years, but when major shareholders shared concerns it has started to act: https://t.co/MHKKskZm77 #techpolicy19w7

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@SJT01577359 Or a negotiation tactic - this happened to Uber before, it improved its safety, then TfL reissues its license. Pretty clear culture clash between 'move fast and break things' silicon valley and conservative regulators (link to TPE23) #techpolicy19w7

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@TechPolicyMPhil Australia's National Broadband Network is a cautionary tale - political interference from both sides of politics made it a much more expensive and lower performing network than originally promised #techpolicy19w6 https://t.co/ZRqKXd7mpT

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

Melbourne's Biomedical precinct brings together top universities, biotech firms, research institutes, and hospitals in the space of 2km. However, it took over a century and a lot of government infrastructure spend to make it happen: https://t.co/Z16jBsToYZ #techpolicy19w5

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@ZachStiffler2 @SJT01577359 Exactly, Zach. The rise of big tech is raises many legitimate concerns, but breaking them up could be even worse #techpolicy19w4

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@andrewbware @natashanyt I'd suggest it's hard for the US government to defend privacy when it hasn't taken on the mandate for data protection - most US privacy laws are state based, and Safe Harbour/US-EU Privacy Shield effectively delegates privacy standards to the EU #techpolicy19w4

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@TLloydSmith This is a more compelling reason to regulate big tech than pure anti-trust (as they natural monopolies due to network effects). But breaking them up seems like the wrong remedy - instead regulate them through things like access rights and advertising restrictions #techpolicy19w4

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@DanushiPeiris However, shift from heroin to ice made drugs a public safety *problem*, increasing the *political* appetite to intervene. Vic gov chose a health (root cause) rather than justice (symptoms) response - the right policy, but they won't get much credit (2/2) #techpolicy19w3

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@DanushiPeiris Great example! It took many years of advocacy, mostly from GPs, to shift the drug *policy* discussion from criminal justice to health, but the *political* appetite wasn't there. (1/2) #techpolicy19w3

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

There are causal factors in both directions, but you need a balance of human capital, institutions and infrastructure for sustainable growth. Countries with high GDP and low SEDA have shaky foundations and usually relying on natural resources (think Qatar).

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

My very first project at BCG supported an attempt to analyse this tradeoff through a 'Sustainable Economic Development Assessment': https://t.co/Ma84KyNBtV #techpolicy19w2

[TechPolicyatCambridge @TechPolicyMPhil]

Our week 2 blog on the tensions (real and imagined) between GDP growth, inequality and sustainability is now available for comment #techpolicy19w2 https://t.co/UXNdLKeJGg

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

@TLloydSmith @TechPolicyMPhil @Qantas @Boeing @Airbus @business Even Qantas would only benefit from this range innovation on a handful of (very lucrative) routes, but the spillovers in fuel efficiency and flight comfort in mid-range would be much bigger impacts that wouldn’t be as newsworthy.

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

The US is blacklisting Chinese AI firms used in Uighur suppression- is this a good way to shape the values behind AI, or will industry fragmentation make it harder to control in the future? #Techpol19 https://t.co/FMaJ31GBhm

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

#techpol19

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

G'day! @CJBSInfoLib

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

Excited to start exploring the economics, policy, ethics and history of new technologies - @TechPolicyMPhil

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

Excited to see @TheSchoolOfLife starting up in Melbourne! When will @alaindebotton be at the pulpit/classroom?

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

US violent death rate is staggering.Sure it might be 'cultural': a culture that protects guns for self-defence use http://t.co/UzzU9aH4

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

Great little book on 21st century teaching and learning. @Peter Deutscher http://t.co/SE4zW2X4

[Ghazi Ahamat @ghaziahamat]

Great quote from Eric Hoffer http://t.co/M0oQJTOg “In times of great change, learners will inherit the earth, while the learned wil...