Uncertainties persist regarding an event unlikely to assist the PM in achieving the goal of shaping the UK’s global approach
No one is certain about the attendees or potential outcomes, but Rishi Sunak’s government insists the AI safety summit next week is a crucial initial step in tackling an ever-evolving subject.
Initial concerns within No 10 about the Israel-Gaza war potentially resulting in a lack of global leaders at the summit have somewhat eased following confirmation of the attendance of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Furthermore, the UK government has achieved an early success, as several prominent AI companies, including OpenAI and Google DeepMind, have unveiled their safety policies in response to a request from Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan.
Nonetheless, the extent of high-profile attendees traveling to Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire on Wednesday or Thursday, and the possibility of any Chinese participation, remains uncertain.
The gathering at this historic country house, known for its role in World War II code-breaking, holds personal significance for Sunak. During his speech on Thursday, he emphasized the potential existential threats posed by AI while also attempting to allay public concerns.
Officials who collaborated with the prime minister on the summit dismiss the focus on who will or won’t be in attendance. They stress that the urgency for answers is so great that waiting is not an option, even when considering Vice President Harris’s decision to deliver a separate speech in London on the US approach to the subject on the first day of the event.
Sunak receives briefings indicating that the upcoming models of frontier AI, designed for a wide range of tasks, will be available in less than a year. These models are incredibly powerful, estimated to be approximately 10 billion times more so than their counterparts from a decade ago, raising uncertainties about their potential achievements even among their designers.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson confirmed that invitations were extended to representatives from China, reflecting the intention to attract a diverse range of attendees, recognizing the global nature of the challenge presented by AI, which knows no borders.
The spokesperson emphasized, “I won’t make assumptions about who will attend. However, our aim is to assemble the appropriate group of nations and businesses, and I’m confident that we will achieve this.”
The initial day’s structure will involve a broader session led by Donelan, bringing together ministers, technology companies, and other experts to address the risks and challenges presented by frontier AI.
On the second day, Donelan will convene smaller groups to discuss potential regulations for the technology. Sunak will engage in discussions with what is referred to as “a select number of like-minded countries and companies,” with China notably not included in this group.
It is not anticipated that the summit will produce concrete regulatory proposals, and Sunak’s vision for the UK to become a global hub for such efforts remains an aspiration.
At the very least, he is optimistic that the UK can take a prominent role in such initiatives, in collaboration with the United States. The idea for the summit emerged during a visit to Washington in June.
Sunak’s spokesperson commented, “We will collaborate closely with the US. Both the US and the UK have leading companies in this field, so it is natural for both countries to be at the forefront of these efforts.
