UK to host world’s first AI summit : PM Sunak

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Britain will host the world’s inaugural summit on artificial intelligence (AI) later this year. The aim of the summit is to foster a global consensus among nations regarding the management of AI’s potential risks while maximizing its benefits, Sunak revealed during his visit to Washington for talks with US President Joe Biden.

UK to host world’s first AI summit

Sunak emphasized the transformative potential of AI and the need to ensure its development and utilization in a safe and secure manner. He highlighted the historical pattern of harnessing groundbreaking technologies for the betterment of humanity and stressed the importance of replicating that approach with AI.

Scheduled to take place in the autumn, the summit will convene “like-minded countries” to shape a regulatory response, as called for by the G7 during a recent meeting in Japan. Sunak’s spokesman denied any intention to establish the summit as a counterweight to authoritarian exploitation of AI by nations such as China and Russia.

While the UK envisions hosting a future global AI regulator, the United States and the European Union have already initiated their own direct dialogue on the rapidly evolving technology. Sunak dismissed concerns about the UK being left behind, expressing confidence in the country’s leadership position in AI based on factors such as the number of AI companies, investment levels, and the quality of research.

Despite their significant age difference, with Sunak being 43 and President Biden 80, the Prime Minister refuted claims that Biden was out of touch with AI. Sunak clarified that they had discussed AI during their participation at the G7 summit in Japan, highlighting the President’s awareness of both the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. He emphasized Biden’s commitment to addressing future threats and collaborating with allies to safeguard their respective nations.

The UK’s initiative to host the AI summit reflects the global recognition of the need for coordinated efforts to address the ethical, regulatory, and security dimensions of AI. The summit aims to bring together nations to shape a common approach in managing AI’s impact on society, ensuring its responsible development, and safeguarding against potential risks.