Tech
US Takes Bold Steps in AI Safety, Puts UK Summit in Perspective
(CTN News) – The White House’s recent executive order on AI safety, requiring developers to share safety results with the US government, is considered one of the most significant actions in the field, broadening its focus to address current and long-term risks, according to AI expert Gary Marcus.
While the UK government hoped its AI Summit, hosted at Bletchley Park, would allow it to lead in AI governance, the US executive order positions the United States at the forefront of addressing AI-related threats.
US Takes Global Leadership Role in AI Safety”
Alex Krasodomski of Chatham House notes that the US’s executive order shows it views itself as a leader in addressing AI threats, potentially overshadowing the UK’s summit. The US is taking measures to create safety and security standards, protect consumer privacy, prevent AI discrimination, and work with international partners to set global AI standards.
UK Summit and Global AI Concerns”
The UK’s AI Summit, hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and attended by top executives and world leaders, seeks to address growing fears about frontier AI and position the UK as a global leader in minimizing AI-related risks. However, the EU, China, and now the US have all made significant strides in AI governance.
Future of AI Governance”
The Group of Seven (G7) is reportedly working on a code of conduct for companies developing advanced AI systems. With numerous global efforts to regulate AI, the Bletchley Park summit faces challenges in defining its unique role and contribution to AI governance.
In recent developments, the United States has taken a significant step in the realm of AI safety, announcing an executive order that mandates AI developers to share safety results with the US government. This move, according to experts, positions the US at the forefront of global AI governance, potentially overshadowing the UK’s ambitions.
The US executive order, signed by President Biden, has been hailed as one of the most far-reaching actions ever taken to advance AI safety. It addresses both current and long-term risks associated with AI, encompassing a wide range of measures to ensure AI safety, security, and trust.
The key provisions of the executive order include:
- Creating new safety and security standards for AI, including mandatory safety test result sharing by AI companies with the federal government.
- Establishing guidelines for agencies to assess privacy techniques employed in AI, enhancing consumer privacy protection.
- Addressing AI algorithms’ potential to discriminate and establishing best practices for AI’s role in the justice system.
- Creating a program to evaluate potentially harmful AI-related healthcare practices and resources for responsible AI tool usage by educators.
- Collaborating with international partners to implement AI standards worldwide.
Moreover, the US government is bolstering its AI workforce by offering opportunities for workers with AI expertise in federal agencies through AI.gov.
The US’s assertive stance on AI safety is seen by many as a sign of the country’s leadership in addressing AI-related threats. The executive order even references the UK summit but highlights its role in advancing American leadership abroad, emphasizing the dominance of US companies in driving AI innovation.
The UK government, in contrast, is hosting a two-day AI Summit at Bletchley Park, aiming to address concerns regarding the rapid advancement of AI systems and establish itself as a global leader in minimizing AI-related risks.
The summit has garnered international attention, with the participation of high-profile figures such as US Vice President Kamala Harris, executives from US tech giants, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
However, the landscape of AI governance is evolving rapidly. The EU is in the process of passing an AI act, China has already implemented strict AI regulations, and now the US has issued a comprehensive executive order.
The Group of Seven (G7) industrial countries is reportedly developing a code of conduct for companies involved in advanced AI systems.
These global efforts in AI governance raise questions about the extent to which discussions at the Bletchley Park summit will remain relevant in the ever-changing AI landscape.
As countries and international organizations make bold moves to regulate and secure AI technologies, the UK’s summit faces the challenge of carving out its unique role in this dynamic field.
