Uniting for AI Safety: The US and Allies Forge Global Network to Tackle Technology’s Risks

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The United States Establishes a Worldwide AI Security Alliance With Major Partners

Renowned globally as a frontrunner in artificial intelligence through giants such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, the US acknowledges the necessity for international collaboration to mitigate the dangers associated with AI advancements.

During a global conference on AI Safety held in Seoul on Tuesday, a statement from the US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, was shared, revealing plans for a worldwide coalition of AI safety centers involving the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and additional allied nations, aimed at mitigating the dangers associated with the technology. She further encouraged more countries to participate in this initiative.

"Secretary Raimondo emphasized in a statement issued before the announcement that the latest progress in artificial intelligence offers promising, transformative opportunities for our society. However, she noted that realizing these benefits is contingent upon effectively addressing the significant risks involved. She stressed the importance of careful and collaborative international efforts to establish global standards for AI, prioritizing human rights, safety, and trust."

The United States authorities have warned that progress in artificial intelligence poses threats to national security. This includes the possibility of facilitating the creation of biological weapons or intensifying the severity of cyberattacks on vital infrastructure.

A hurdle facing the United States, as hinted by Raimondo, lies in the reluctance of certain countries to align with its strategy on AI. She mentioned that the US, alongside the UK, Japan, Canada, Singapore, and the European AI Office, plans to collaborate as the initial members of an international coalition dedicated to the safety of AI technology.

The Department of Commerce refrained from discussing if an invitation was extended to China to be part of the newly established AI security framework. Concerns over China leveraging sophisticated AI to bolster its military capabilities or to pose a risk to the United States prompted both the Trump and Biden administrations to implement a range of limitations on China's ability to obtain crucial technology.

The United States and China have initiated a dialogue. During a November meeting, President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping concurred to engage in discussions concerning the dangers and security of artificial intelligence. Last week, delegates from both countries convened in Switzerland for the inaugural series of talks.

The Department of Commerce announced that delegates from the newly established worldwide network dedicated to AI safety will convene in San Francisco later this year. According to a framework released by the department, the network aims to collaborate on creating and reaching a consensus on methods and tools for assessing AI models and strategies for reducing AI-related risks. "Our goal is to foster the development of the scientific foundation and methodologies that will support the establishment of future international AI governance frameworks," the statement reads. A spokesperson for the department mentioned that the network is designed to enable countries to leverage expertise, accelerate experimentation, and establish consensus on AI guidelines.

This week's AI safety summit in Seoul is jointly hosted by the UK government, which organized the initial significant global gathering on the subject in November of last year. The previous summit concluded with over 28 nations, among them the US, EU member states, and China, endorsing a statement alerting that the rapid and unpredictable advancement of artificial intelligence poses a risk of causing "severe, potentially disastrous, damage."

Authored by Carlton

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Authored by Celia Ford

During the swift introduction of advanced AI technologies such as ChatGPT in the previous year, several leading experts and influential figures in technology started to raise their voices about the possibility that AI systems could become unruly, and might even pose a danger to human society. While discussions about the most extreme risks have diminished over time, global regulators are now focusing on more pressing concerns. They are worried about the capability of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT to disseminate false information and potentially disrupt democratic processes, including elections. For instance, in January, voters in New Hampshire were targeted by automated calls that utilized a counterfeit voice of Joe Biden, created by AI.

In October of last year, President Biden signed an expansive executive order aimed at tackling both the opportunities and challenges presented by the rapid advancements in AI, particularly highlighted by the impressive capabilities of ChatGPT. He directed the Commerce Department to embark on various projects to create AI safety protocols and to formulate a strategy for international cooperation in the promotion and development of AI standards.

The executive order issued by Biden mandated that the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, a branch of the Commerce Department, create a US AI Safety Institute. This institute is tasked with rigorously evaluating AI models to identify potential misuses and to ascertain their behavior.

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