LSE President Champions AI for Global Good at Peking University Lecture

LSE President Highlights Social Science's Role in AI for Global Good

Wednesday 10 September 2025

On 5 September, Professor Larry Kramer, President and Vice Chancellor of the London School of Economics (LSE), delivered a lecture at Peking University focused on the societal implications of artificial intelligence. His talk, titled AI for Global Good: Future Technologies and Society, emphasized that while creating new AI tools is straightforward, guiding their development to serve society fairly and responsibly is far more challenging.

Professor Kramer pointed out that issues such as accessibility, fairness, and broader social impact are central concerns that social sciences must address. He stated, “Inventing turns out to be the easy part. The hard part – the part that determines whether these inventions do good or ill, whether the benefits are widely and fairly shared, and whether their costs are managed or spin out of control – is social, institutional, and political.” He highlighted that technology itself is neutral; its effects depend on societal choices about use and governance.

LSE’s Commitment to Responsible AI Development

Professor Kramer outlined how LSE integrates social science expertise directly into AI development and policy. The School supports empirical research, policy design, and public dialogue to influence AI’s application worldwide. Key initiatives include the Digital Skills Lab, which equips students with practical skills to use AI responsibly and critically. Faculty members are encouraged to redesign courses to foster creative and ethical AI use.

LSE has also formed partnerships with prominent technology companies such as Anthropic and Microsoft Copilot. These collaborations prioritize privacy, safety, and training to provide secure access to advanced AI tools for the LSE community.

“The inventions we celebrate are essential. But it is the institutions we build around them that determine whether they solve problems or create new ones,” Professor Kramer said. “At LSE, we intend to be at the forefront of those choices: convening, researching, and educating to ensure that technology serves society.”

Strengthening Global Academic Partnerships

This lecture builds on LSE’s extensive collaborations across East Asia. The School maintains partnerships with prestigious institutions including Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Fudan University. With Peking University, LSE manages two double degree programmes and an MBA exchange through the Guanghua School of Management. Together, they engage in global discussions on technology and higher education via the Digital Intelligence International Development Education Alliance (DI-IDEA) and the annual LSE–PKU Conference.

During his visit, Professor Kramer met with President Li of Peking University and officially launched the LSE-Tsinghua Research Sustainability Fund. This fund supports joint projects tackling global challenges. LSE and Tsinghua also co-chair the Global Alliance on Universities on Climate (GAUC).

Fudan University hosts the LSE-Fudan Research Centre for Global Public Policy, fostering multidisciplinary research and collaboration on public policy issues that have worldwide impact.

Engagement with the East and South East Asian Academic Community

LSE welcomes approximately 3,000 students from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. It also has a strong alumni presence in East and South East Asia, with around 30,000 graduates residing in the region. This network underlines the School’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in both education and research.

For researchers and professionals interested in AI’s societal impact, exploring interdisciplinary approaches that combine technology with social science is crucial. LSE’s initiatives highlight the importance of governance, ethics, and policy in shaping AI’s future.

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