British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to underscore the imperative of confronting the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) for governments and businesses in a speech before the upcoming global AI Safety Summit. This summit, scheduled for November 1-2 at Bletchley Park, seeks to address the perceived existential threats posed by AI and aims to establish international consensus on its safe development.
Sunak’s vision is for the UK to become a global leader in AI safety, positioning itself as a key player in the world’s rapidly expanding AI landscape, especially after Brexit.
Around 100 participants will deliberate on various topics, including the unpredictable advancements of AI and the potential for humans to lose control over it.
While recognizing that AI can fuel economic growth, enhance human capabilities, and tackle once-insurmountable challenges, Sunak acknowledges the novel dangers and apprehensions that AI brings. He believes that it is crucial to confront these fears head-on, assuring the public that their safety will be prioritized while ensuring that AI’s potential benefits are fully harnessed.
The UK government will also release a report on “frontier” AI, encompassing cutting-edge, general-purpose AI models that will be a focal point of discussion at the summit. This report will inform conversations on risks such as societal harms, misuse, and the loss of control.
Notable attendees at the summit include U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. China is expected to participate, and European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova has received an invitation. Earlier this year, leaders of the G7 economies emphasized the need for standards to establish trustworthy AI and launched the Hiroshima AI process, a ministerial forum dedicated to this purpose.
