PM Sunak Unveils UK’s Role as Host for Historic Global Summit on Ensuring Artificial Intelligence Safety
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that Britain will host the world’s first summit on artificial intelligence later this year. The summit aims to bring together “like-minded countries” to establish a common approach in managing the potential risks associated with AI while harnessing its immense potential for positive transformation. Speaking in Washington ahead of talks with US President Joe Biden, Sunak stressed the importance of developing and utilizing AI in a safe and secure manner. He emphasized that throughout history, humanity has successfully harnessed groundbreaking technologies for the benefit of society, and this should be the guiding principle for AI as well.
The summit, planned for the autumn, will provide a platform for discussions among participating nations to shape a regulatory response, following a recent G7 call for action on AI in Japan. Sunak’s spokesman clarified that the summit is not intended to be a countermeasure against countries like China and Russia that may exploit AI for authoritarian purposes.
While the UK seeks to host a future global regulator for AI post-Brexit, the United States and the European Union are already engaged in direct dialogues on the rapidly evolving technology. Sunak dismissed concerns about the UK being marginalized in the AI landscape, citing the country’s strong presence in AI research, investment, and the number of innovative companies. He expressed confidence in the UK’s leadership potential in AI, second only to the US among democratic nations.
Responding to discussions about President Biden’s understanding of AI, Sunak assured that both leaders had previously engaged in AI discussions during the G7 summit in Japan. Sunak stated that President Biden is well aware of the challenges and opportunities presented by AI and is committed to collaborating with other countries to protect against future threats. This indicates the United States’ support for the upcoming UK summit and their shared dedication to addressing AI-related concerns.
