Heads of states and companies pledge to prioritize AI safety at Seoul summit

Government officials and AI industry executives have come together to prioritize safety measures in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. This week, Britain and South Korea are hosting the AI safety summit in Seoul, following the global summit held at Bletchley Park in England six months ago.

The British government has announced a groundbreaking agreement between 10 countries and the European Union to establish an international network focused on AI safety. This network, similar to the U.K.’s AI Safety Institute, aims to accelerate the advancement of AI safety science by promoting a common understanding and aligning research, standards, and testing efforts. Countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the U.S. have all signed onto this agreement.

During the virtual meeting at the AI Summit in Seoul, global leaders and leading AI companies discussed AI safety, innovation, and inclusion. They agreed to the Seoul Declaration, emphasizing increased international collaboration in building AI to address global issues while upholding human rights and promoting a “human-centric, trustworthy, and responsible” approach.

Furthermore, 16 prominent AI companies, including Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Samsung Electronics, have committed to the world’s first AI Safety Commitments. These commitments require the companies to prioritize safety by not developing or deploying AI models or systems if the risks cannot be mitigated effectively.

Overall, the agreements and commitments made at the AI safety summit highlight the importance of prioritizing safety in AI development and deployment. With international collaboration and industry-wide commitments, the world is taking significant steps towards ensuring the safe and responsible advancement of AI technology.