The Deputy Prime Minister will call on the UN General Assembly to establish a global regulatory framework
Artificial intelligence’s rapid development is outpacing regulators, warns the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, who seeks to mobilize global awareness ahead of the UK’s AI safety summit in November. Oliver Dowden will address the UN General Assembly on Friday, highlighting the urgent need for AI regulation, which is evolving faster than anticipated by policymakers. Dowden will call upon nations to collaborate in establishing an international regulatory framework, a priority for the UK as it hosts the summit at Bletchley Park.
According to the remarks released prior to his speech, Dowden will state, “A worldwide competition has commenced, in which both individual companies and nations will race to push the limits of technology rapidly and extensively. Historically, leaders have reacted to scientific and technological advancements with regulations after the fact. However, in this case, essential safeguards, regulations, and governance must be developed concurrently with technological advancements. Currently, global regulation is lagging behind ongoing progress.”
Dowden’s statements mirror the increasing apprehension within the highest levels of the British government regarding the potential misuse of cutting-edge technology.
AI has the capability to produce counterfeit visuals, videos, audio, and text that are virtually identical to reality, rendering them a potent tool for spreading disinformation. This fact was emphasized when a computer-generated image of the Pope wearing a white puffer jacket gained widespread attention on Twitter, fooling many into thinking it was authentic.
Furthermore, concerns exist regarding the potential for biased outcomes when employing established AI tools like facial recognition software, as their training data may exhibit signs of prejudice.
However, Dowden will shift the spotlight to highlight the national security issues he believes the technology presents. Certain individuals within the AI industry have expressed the view that if allowed to progress without constraints, it could potentially endanger humanity.
Dowden will express the following: “Technology companies should not be the sole evaluators of their own practices, just as governments and citizens must have confidence in the effective management of risks. In fact, a significant part of this effort should revolve around instilling trust in the system, and it is only nation states that can offer the assurance that the most critical national security concerns have been addressed.”
The Deputy Prime Minister, filling in for Rishi Sunak in New York, has dedicated the past few days to engaging in discussions with ministers from various nations as the UK seeks to assume a leading role in shaping global AI regulation.
According to the Cabinet Office, he chaired a meeting on AI safety attended by digital ministers from countries including Japan, the US, Pakistan, and Canada. Additionally, he delivered a speech at the Global Emerging Technology Summit in Washington on Thursday.
Last week, The Guardian reported that several heads of state had confirmed their participation in the November summit. Notable attendees include Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council. While Joe Biden, the President of the United States, will not be present, his representation will be carried out by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Meanwhile, discussions among officials continue regarding which portions of the summit China should be involved in, given concerns about Beijing’s influence in Western democracies. Recent news revealed the arrest of a British parliamentary researcher on suspicion of espionage for China. However, UK officials maintain that this is not the sole reason for the selective invitation of Chinese officials to specific summit meetings.
