Task force launches effort to balance AI integration and civil protections

Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly – and for Guam, the question is no longer if it will shape daily life, but how. Now, leaders are taking steps to make sure the island has a say in that future.

As AI continues to evolve, Guam is beginning to define its own approach. The Guam Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulatory Task Force convened for its first official meeting this morning at the Guam Congress Building.

Created under Public Law 38-77 authored by Senator Telo Taitague, it brings together leaders from government, the Judiciary, academia, healthcare, industry, and economic development to create Guam’s first comprehensive framework for the responsible use of AI across government and the private sector.

Task force chair Senator Taitague said, “We have a range of opportunity to help shape Guam’s future by building a thoughtful, responsible framework for AI – one that encourages innovations, while protecting the Constitution and Organic Act of our people.”

But as the conversation moves forward, so do questions – particularly about how AI could impact jobs and the workforce. Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio, who provided remarks by video, addressed those concerns directly.

“But history teaches us something important. when new technologies arrive, they rarely eliminate work altogether," he said. "They change the nature of it.”

He says history offers some context – that while new age tech, such as the automobile or the computer, can disrupt industries, it also creates new pathways. “AI itself will not take jobs, but people who know how to use AI effectively will increasingly compete for them. That is why the work of this task force matters because our responsibility is not simply to regulate technology. Our responsibility is to ensure that the people of guam are prepared to use it.”

At the same time, Tenorio pointed to opportunities that could be especially meaningful for Guam, saying, “Researchers around the world are now using AI to support the preservation of indigenous languages. AI tools are being developed to recognize speech, translate text, and help build digital learning resources.”

“Imagine what that could mean for the CHamoru language!"

AI can also be an asset to help far removed communities like ours overcome the challenge of distance – aiding medical professionals with quicker, in-house analysis and ai tutoring systems helping students receive individualized learning support even when classrooms are crowded or resources are limited.

But officials stress – the benefits will depend on how thoughtfully the technology is implemented. Trust, they say, will be key.

The lieutenant governor added, “The goal is simple: to ensure that technology works for our people, for the teacher preparing tomorrow’s lesson, for the nurse caring for patients, for the small business owner trying to stay competitive, and for the young people who will enter a workforce very different from the one we know now.”

Members have also organized into subcommittees focused on key areas including cybersecurity, workforce impact, education, ethics, and enforcement. And as their work moves forward, their focus is clear: making sure AI is implemented in a way that reflects the needs and values of the people of Guam.

TASK FORCE MEMBERS:

-       Vice Chair, Beatrice Santos, Guam Office Of Technology
-       Christina Garcia, Guam Economic Development Authority
-       Esther Aguigui, Guam Homeland Security Advisor
-       Austin Fortuno, Attaché To The Attorney General
-       Attorney Mia Bonardi, Judiciary Of Guam Designee
-       Gene Crisostomo, Docomo Pacific, Senior Vice President Of Technology
-       John Reyes Jr., Vice President, Director of Innovation
-       Lola Leon Guerrero, Director of Bureau of Statistics & Planning
-       Dr. Anita Borja-Enriquez, President, University of Guam
-       David Dell’isola, Director, Guam Department Of Labor
-       Dr. Jolene Aguon, Interim Administrator/CEO, Guam Memorial Hospital 

SUBCOMMITTEES:

-       Cyber Security & Data Privacy Protection – Chaired By Beatrice Santos 
-       U.S. & International AI Policies, Guidelines & Infrastructure – Chaired by Esther Aguigui
-       AI Integration In The Workplace – Chaired By Christina Garcia
-       AI Education & Social Media – Dr. Anita Borja-Enriquez
-       Human Resources, Predictive Policying & Profiling Based on Algorithms – David Dell’isola
-       AI Ethics, Deepfakes, Data & Algorithmic Exploitations – Gene Crisostomo