Taiwan's Basic AI Law launched! The National AI Strategy Special Committee has been established, and is promoting the Talent Ark Project.

The Executive Yuan has officially launched the implementation planning for the Basic Law on Artificial Intelligence. The government will establish a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Special Committee, with the Premier serving as the convener, to comprehensively advance the AI national governance framework and risk management.

The Executive Yuan officially establishes the AI national governance framework

After Premier Su Tseng-chang announced the details today (21st) following the review of the report titled “Implementation Plan for the Basic Law on Artificial Intelligence” at an Executive Yuan meeting, the Executive Yuan will establish a “National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Special Committee,” with the Premier serving as the convener, to comprehensively coordinate, promote, and oversee all AI-related matters nationwide.

At the same time, the National Science and Technology Council will also coordinate the drafting of Taiwan’s first “National Artificial Intelligence Development Outline,” which will serve as an important basis for AI development, governance, and industry policies in the future.

The “Basic Law on Artificial Intelligence” was officially promulgated and took effect on January 14 of this year, making it Taiwan’s first AI basic law. The legislation sets out the fundamental principles for AI research and development, applications, and government governance, and also requires the government to balance technological development, human rights protection, social welfare, and risk management.

Image source: Executive Yuan

Su Tseng-chang said that while the government promotes AI development, it must also address issues such as child and youth protection, human rights, and gender impact. Currently, the Department of Digital Development has completed phased assessments with the National Science and Technology Council, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare on child and youth protection, human rights, and gender impact, and the related reports have also been made public.

The government requires every ministry and agency to complete AI risk management systems

According to the Executive Yuan’s planning, all levels of government agencies must complete risk assessments for public AI use by July this year and establish internal control management rules within 1 year. In addition, the Department of Digital Development will also be responsible for promoting the “AI Risk Classification Framework,” verification tools, and data governance systems to help each ministry and agency build AI risk identification and management capabilities.

Executive Yuan Spokesperson Li Hui-zhi said that the relevant risk classification framework has already been submitted to the Executive Yuan, and it is expected that the framework will be formally announced after review in the near term.

Deputy Minister Hou Yi-xiu of the Department of Digital Development said that the relevant framework has referenced the European Union’s approach to identifying high-risk AI and international standards. Going forward, it will also assist agencies in building implementation capacity through workshops, operation manuals, and cross-ministry and cross-agency collaboration.

Under the provisions of the “Basic Law on Artificial Intelligence,” the competent authorities in each industry must, by January 2028, establish risk management rules, industry guidelines, and legal and regulatory adjustment measures for AI applications in their respective industries. For high-risk AI applications, the government will also require clear warning labels and establish accountability, responsibility assignment, and remediation and compensation mechanisms.

Hou Yi-xiu said that currently, the classification of high-risk AI categories still needs to be determined by the competent authorities based on industry characteristics. Going forward, reference will be made to EU and international related standards to provide a consistent basis for all ministries and agencies to follow.

AI talent and education plans advance in parallel

In addition to governance and regulations, the Executive Yuan is also simultaneously advancing AI talent and education planning. Su Tseng-chang said the government is currently promoting the “AI Talent Ark Project,” with key focuses including building AI learning environments, cultivating cross-disciplinary AI teaching talent, and strengthening data-driven decision-making capabilities.

Image source: Executive Yuan The government is promoting the “AI Talent Ark Project”

The Ministry of Education will also announce AI use and learning guidelines before July this year to enhance students’ and teachers’ AI literacy, while establishing the ability for “responsible AI use.” In the public sector, the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration under the Executive Yuan will collaborate with the Department of Digital Development, and is expected to launch the “AI Civil Service Talent Certification Guidelines” in June this year, establishing AI capability standards for the civil service system.

Su Tseng-chang said that the AI talent certification guidelines 3.0 have added capability items including “AI governance literacy” and “AI collaboration and development,” with the aim of strengthening talent’s ability to identify AI risks and apply AI in practice.

Cai Miao-ci, Director of the Forward-looking and Applied Technology Department at the National Science and Technology Council, said that in the future, members of the National AI Strategy Special Committee will include representatives from government ministries and agencies, local governments, scholars and experts, civil organizations, and industry. The goal is to promote AI policy and industry development through cross-industry collaboration.

Taiwan’s AI policy begins to enter a phase of institutionalization

In recent years, major countries around the world have started establishing AI governance and regulatory systems, including the EU AI Act, the U.S. AI executive order, and AI national strategies in Japan and South Korea. Taiwan’s formal launch of the implementation planning for the Basic Law on Artificial Intelligence also indicates that the government is upgrading AI development—from a single technology policy—to the level of national governance and an industrial strategy.

As for the government’s current planning direction, besides AI risk governance and legal and regulatory adjustment, it also includes mechanisms for data opening, sharing, and reuse, with the aim of building an AI development environment that balances innovation and people’s rights and interests. The National Science and Technology Council said that after the implementation of the Basic Law on Artificial Intelligence, a 2-year regulatory adjustment period will be launched to improve data governance mechanisms and the environment for industry self-discipline, while continuing to promote AI innovation experimental environments and industry applications.

Image source: Executive Yuan Key points summary of the implementation plan for the Basic Law on Artificial Intelligence

As AI technology gradually penetrates industries such as finance, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and government services, the Taiwanese government is also accelerating the establishment of governance frameworks, hoping to build a more complete institutional foundation and industry development capability in global AI competition.