Why China Emphasizes Global Cooperation at AI Summit, Elon Musk Calls for a ‘Referee
AI SUMMIT : China has expressed its willingness to collaborate with international partners in managing the oversight of artificial intelligence (AI). This announcement came during the inaugural AI Safety Summit held in Britain, where political leaders and technology executives convened to discuss the safe development of AI.
Several tech leaders and political figures have raised concerns about the rapid progress of AI, considering it an existential threat to the world. This has led to a global race among governments and international organizations to establish safeguards and regulations for AI.
In a notable step, a Chinese vice minister participated in the summit alongside leaders from the United States and the European Union, as well as tech industry figures like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who represents ChatGPT.
China’s Vice Minister Wu Zhaohui stated, “China is willing to enhance our dialogue and communication in AI safety with all sides, contributing to an international mechanism with global participation in a governance framework that needs wide consensus.”
Elon Musk proposed the idea of establishing a “third-party referee” for companies involved in AI development, which would be responsible for raising alarms when risks arise and instilling public confidence in the technology.
The summit, held at Bletchley Park, was organized by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with the aim of positioning Britain as an intermediary between the United States, China, and the EU in AI governance.
The summit focused on discussing “frontier AI,” referring to highly capable general-purpose AI models. The participating governments produced a “Bletchley Declaration,” emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the development of frontier AI technology, including methods for measuring, monitoring, and mitigating potentially harmful capabilities.
This collaborative approach to addressing AI risks brings together countries that recognize the importance of collectively addressing the challenges presented by frontier AI.
China’s participation in the summit was significant given its prominent role in AI technology development. However, some British lawmakers have raised questions about China’s involvement due to concerns related to trust and geopolitical tensions.
The United States clarified that the summit was initiated by the UK and not the US. US Vice President Kamala Harris also presented the US government’s response to AI during her visit to London.
The summit addressed various topics, including AI’s potential use in bioweapon development by terrorists and the technology’s capacity to outsmart humans and disrupt the world. These discussions aim to ensure that AI development proceeds safely and responsibly.
