The UK will host the first global summit dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) before the end of the year. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in Washington on Wednesday that the aim is to achieve a comprehensive approach to controlling the risks associated with the technology.
“AI has incredible potential to change our lives for the better. But we have to ensure that it is developed and used safely,” said Rishi Sunak, who is visiting the White House, where he is scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden. “Throughout history, we have continued to create revolutionary new technologies that have been used for the benefit of humanity. This is what we need to realize again.”
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A spokesman for the British leader said the summit should be held next autumn and bring together “like-minded countries” to lay the foundations for regulation. The idea of the summit, however, is not aimed at thwarting the exploitation of AI by authoritarian states such as China or Russia, the same source said.
Sunak wants to be a leader on the issue
It does, however, respond to Britain’s desire to eventually host the headquarters of a potential global regulator of AI, although this could be undermined, while the EU and the US have already begun discussions on the matter. Rishi Sunak assured that the UK was not in danger of withdrawing.
“I think we should have confidence in our country being the leader when it comes to AI, because that’s what the facts point to,” he told the BBC. “If you look at the number of companies, the amount invested, the quality of our research, apart from the US, no one is at the level of other democracies,” asserted Rishi Sunak.
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Biden knows about AI issues
The British Prime Minister, President Biden, despite being almost twice as old (43 as against Rishi Sunak’s 80) has promised not to overdo the technology.
“Yes, we discussed artificial intelligence when we were together in Japan (for the G7 summit) and I know he is fully aware of the risks and opportunities involved,” Rishi Sunak said on a broadcast by British channel TalkTV. President of the United States.
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“But I know the president is mindful of the threats our countries face in the future and wants to make sure we work together to protect them,” he stressed.
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