Science & Tech News: US and China Join Forces with UK to Address ‘Catastrophic’ AI Challenges
The US and China have both given their endorsement to a joint declaration on the importance of managing the potential risks associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI). This declaration, known as the Bletchley Declaration, was agreed upon by 28 nations, including the leading AI powers, and emphasizes the need for international cooperation in handling this powerful technology. The declaration was released on the first day of the world’s first AI safety summit, organized by Rishi Sunak, and featured a video message from the King. The summit takes place at Bletchley Park, the historic site where Britain’s codebreakers worked during World War II. The UK government states that this agreement fulfills the key goals of the safety summit, ensuring that potential threats posed by AI are managed collectively and that the technology is developed and deployed responsibly and safely. Notably, the involvement of the US and China is seen as critical, as they are major players in the AI field and oversee many leading developers. Despite criticism, Sunak invited China to the event, prompting concerns about their use of AI for repression. Other countries, including France, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, have also given their support to the declaration. The declaration addresses various risks associated with AI, including cybersecurity, biotechnology, misinformation, bias, and privacy, emphasizing that international cooperation is the best approach to address these risks. Attendees have agreed to collaborate on AI safety research and plan to hold future summits, with the UK and South Korea co-hosting a virtual event in six months and France hosting an in-person summit after a year. Although the declaration has been criticized for lacking specificity, it is seen as a step in the right direction, with the countries agreeing to support an international network of scientific research on the safety of foundation models. Critics argue that there should be more urgency in addressing existing issues and that regulation should ensure accountability and prevent AI companies from regulating themselves. The AI summit, attended by figures from politics and business, will conclude with a live discussion between Sunak and Elon Musk.
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