Friday May 26, 2023
The UK government has for the first time acknowledged the "existential" risk posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The Prime Minister, along with Rishi Sunak and Chloe Smith, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, held a meeting with leaders of leading AI research groups to address safety and regulatory concerns.
During the meeting, the CEOs of Google DeepMind, OpenAI and Anthropic AI engaged in discussions on how to effectively moderate the development of AI technology to mitigate potential catastrophic risks. In a joint statement, the participants highlighted their conversations on security measures, voluntary actions being considered by risk management labs, and the potential for international cooperation on AI security and regulation.
Emphasizing the need to keep pace with rapid advances in AI, the Prime Minister and CEOs explored the various risks associated with the technology, from disinformation and national security concerns to existential threats. They agreed that it is important for the UK Government to work closely with the labs to ensure their approach is in line with global innovation in AI.
This meeting marked a significant shift in Rishi Sunaka's stance as he acknowledged the potential "existential" threat posed by the development of "superintelligent" artificial intelligence without appropriate safeguards. This contrasted with the UK government's generally positive approach to AI development. Sunak is set to meet with Google CEO Sundar Pichai to further refine the government's approach to regulating the AI industry. Pichai himself has expressed the view that artificial intelligence is too important not to be regulated and has emphasized the need for effective regulation.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, joined the discussion by calling for an international body, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, to regulate the development of AI and control its speed. Altman emphasized the need for a serious approach to artificial intelligence, comparable to the regulation of nuclear material, if one is to achieve "superintelligence".
Britain's approach to regulating AI has faced criticism for being too lenient. Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, expressed concern that the UK is relying on existing regulators rather than formulating comprehensive regulations that address a wide range of impacts, including labor market impacts and livelihood risks.
The UK government's recognition of the 'existential' risk of AI is a significant step towards recognizing the potential dangers of unchecked AI development. It emphasizes the need to introduce robust security measures and effective regulations to protect against potential risks and ensure the responsible development of artificial intelligence.
