CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville Right Now hosted James French, founder of Brownland Leadership Solutions and former President of the Montpelier Foundation Board, to discuss the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and the application of his governance model, structural parity. 

French, known for pioneering structural parity at Montpelier, explained this governance model as ensuring institutions achieve their highest power, influence, and performance when stewardship is broadly representative and accountable. He compared it to “Madisonian principles of democracy.” 

French’s new venture, Brownland Leadership Solutions, aims to apply structural parity to the governance of AI. “I see it in the governance of really broadly across a lot of sectors, because it is a governance model and a very powerful one,” French noted. He emphasized the importance of giving people impacted by an organization a say in how it’s run, which he believes positively affects accountability and relevance. 

Addressing the concerns surrounding AI, French acknowledged the significant risks alongside its potential benefits. He stated, “It’s projected by many economists that AI could add about $13 trillion to global GDP by 2030… But it also comes with similarly profound risks, and they range from the existential… but more probable is the tendency that AI systems have for reflecting the current power dynamics in society.” 

French sees the core issue as a “gatekeeper problem,” emphasizing the need for careful management and design of AI systems to ensure they benefit society. “We have to make AI safe, we have to make AI trusted… If it’s not trusted by the public, the public won’t adopt it. We want the public to understand that it has a say in how these systems are developed and deployed.” 

As French continues his work with Brownland Leadership Solutions, he aims to embed structural parity within AI systems, creating a meaningful dialogue between stakeholders and the companies developing these powerful technologies. 

You can listen to the full interview here: