On November 1, 2023, China, the United States, and the European Union came together at the AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park in England to collaborate on managing the risks associated with artificial intelligence.
The summit, attended by over 25 countries, resulted in the signing of the “Bletchley Declaration,” emphasizing the need for collective efforts and a unified approach to oversight.
Wu Zhaohui, China’s vice minister of science and technology, expressed China’s readiness to enhance cooperation in AI safety, aiming to establish an international “governance framework.” He emphasized that all countries, regardless of size, have equal rights to develop and utilize AI.
The summit addressed concerns about the potential impact of AI on economies and society, particularly in light of the accessibility of advanced AI models like ChatGPT. Participants, including tech leaders like Elon Musk, highlighted the importance of gaining insight before implementing oversight, suggesting the potential use of a “third-party referee” to identify emerging risks.
While the European Union’s focus on AI oversight has centered on data privacy and human rights, the British summit delved into the potential existential risks posed by highly capable general-purpose AI models known as “frontier AI.”
The summit, initiated by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, aims to position the UK as a mediator between the economic powers of the United States, China, and the EU in the post-Brexit era. British digital minister Michelle Donelan announced plans for two additional AI Safety Summits, to be held in South Korea and France in the coming year.
As governments and tech companies vie for leadership in AI, the summit provided a platform for critical discussions on regulation. While China’s participation was significant due to its pivotal role in AI development, some UK lawmakers raised concerns about the level of trust between China and Western capitals.
The United States clarified that the summit was initiated by the UK, separate from U.S. involvement. Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech on the U.S. government’s response to AI, along with private meetings, sparked some discussion about potential overshadowing of the summit’s agenda.
In the wake of President Joe Biden’s executive order on AI, the U.S. government announced the launch of the U.S. AI Safety Institute during the summit. Harris is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sunak and participate in the second day of the summit on Thursday.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 2, 2023
