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United Nations – AI Readiness Methodology and first AI Risk Meeting
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) introduces AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) to aid governments in supporting ethical AI. Over 50 countries, including Brazil, Chile, India, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, and Uruguay, are adopting RAM. In addition, the UN Security Council holds its inaugural meeting on AI risks, discussing its threat to global peace and security. Led by the UK, the meeting includes insights from AI experts, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and highlights plans for an AI advisory board. The UK plans to host a worldwide AI summit later this year.
UK’s AI Safety Summit
As the UK prepares to host the inaugural international AI safety summit, it has adopted a collaborative approach by involving external AI experts from industry and academia. This strategy is expected to be emulated worldwide, highlighting the need for AI specialists within governments to navigate the opportunities and risks posed by rapidly advancing technology. The summit, led by prominent figures like Matt Clifford and Jonathan Black, aims to establish a shared approach for mitigating the potential risks of AI. To learn more about the UK's position on AI and the upcoming summit, connect with Jessica Birch at jessica.birch@accesspartnership.com.
Leading AI companies and US government agrees on voluntary guidelines
Leading AI companies, including Open AI, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, Anthropic, and Inflection AI, have committed to incorporating voluntary safeguards into their AI technology development under White House guidance. The guidelines focus on transparency and cybersecurity, involving measures like watermarking AI-generated content, disclosing risks and vulnerabilities, safety testing before releasing commercial products, and studying societal risks. President Joe Biden's Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients, disclosed plans to advocate for stronger AI controls through bipartisan legislation.
Asia governments are not keen to adopt the EU’s AI Act
The EU and its member states have been attempting to lobby Asian countries into following the precedent set by the AI Act over recent months but have been met with a lukewarm response. Officials in at least 10 countries, including Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, and the Philippines, have been targeted by the effort, but Asian governments tend to favour either a “wait and see” approach or a more flexible regulatory framework, with many hoping to establish themselves as global leaders. The EU is pushing for the AI Act to replicate the applicability of its data privacy regime, the GDPR.
China unveils final version of generative AI guidelines
The Cyberspace Administration of China has finalised its official guidelines for generative AI services. The rules require platform providers to conduct security reviews, register their services with the government, remove illegal content, and establish guardrails to prevent minors from becoming addicted to the technology. The final guidelines, which follow a public consultation period, remove punitive punishments from earlier versions, such as fines of up to RMB 100,000 (USD 14,000) for violations. The updated version also no longer requires platform operators to act within a three-month grace period to address problematic content.
Saudi Arabia establishes International Centre for AI Research and Ethics
In response to the AI for Good Global Summit 2023, Saudi Arabia's Prime Minister and Crown Prince have greenlit the establishment of the 'International Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics.' This independent center aims to harness AI's potential for advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as an AI governance leader. The center's proposed pillars encompass a standardized incident reporting database, a registry of influential AI systems, shared data analysis, knowledge dissemination, guidance for AI regulation, and orchestrating global AI debates. This initiative positions Saudi Arabia as a potential global model for responsible AI governance, fostering collaboration, economic growth, and sustainable progress
AI leaders launch industry body for frontier models
27 July, 2023
Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic have joined forces to create the Frontier Model Forum. The body aims to ensure the safe and responsible development of AI models more advanced than existing systems by harnessing the companies’ technical and operational capacity to identify best practices, advance research, and facilitate information sharing. Membership is open to companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to safety in frontier model development, with members required to participate in joint initiatives and support the Forum’s goals. An advisory body for the body will be formed over the coming months.
Apple is working on a range of AI-powered tools, with the company still finalising its strategy of how to release the systems to the public. The platforms, developed under a large language model framework known as “Ajax”, include a chatbot to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. Multiple teams within the company have reportedly been collaborating to address a range of challenges, such as privacy concerns. Apple has previously said it would implement AI into its existing products and has already added AI-related improvements to Siri and Maps. However, the company has been slow to launch services to match rivals like Microsoft and is now seeking to firmly establish itself in the AI sector.
In a world of complex technical questions and competing philosophies, what progress can really be achieved in AI regulation? Access Partnership CTO William Webb's headline presentation at The AI Summit in London last month addressed this question in detail. Under the title 'AI Dreams: The Regulator's Dilemma', William outlined the limitations of existing frameworks, the dangers of inaction, and how to build global consensus around societal, rather than technological, needs.
The necessity of regulating AI is widely acknowledged owing to its swift progress and worldwide influence. The aim is to discover a balance between harnessing its potential and steering clear of possible harm. Professor William Webb, CTO of Access Partnership, promotes a collaborative approach to conscientiously steer the development of AI. To delve into the finer points, download his proposition for global AI regulation.
AI in Healthcare: Maximising Opportunities, Minimising Risks
27th September at 3PM BST / 10AM EDT
The convergence of technology and healthcare holds great promise for innovation and transformation. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly sophisticated, it presents opportunities to enhance efficiency, personalisation, and effectiveness in healthcare. This webinar explores the potential benefits of this convergence while acknowledging the cultural obstacles, concerns around data protection, biases, and the cautious approach of some stakeholders. Speakers will be from Novartis, Roche and Responsible AI.
AI for Sustainability: Innovating for Net-Zero and Nature-Positive
18th October at 9am GMT / 5PM SGT
Explore the world of sustainable innovation through our informative webinar, "AI for Sustainability: Achieving Net-Zero and Nature-Positive Goals." Discover the critical role that artificial intelligence (AI) plays in driving global sustainability efforts. Gain insights into how AI can reshape our path towards a more environmentally responsible, low-carbon economy, and its influence on diverse industries. Get a clear understanding of AI's core concepts, including data analytics, machine learning, and predictive modeling, and learn how these tools can be applied throughout the sustainability value chain. Explore the practical applications of AI in sectors such as agriculture, extractive industries, energy reduction, and leveraging data for comprehensive sustainability reporting, and join us in envisioning a future marked by a greener and more sustainable world.