G7: AI must have global technical standards

G7 is discussing not just war in Ukraine and climate change. There is also another pressing concern we must deal with: how will we use artificial intelligence (AI) in the future, and how will we manage all the risks associated with this technology?

G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, 2023. Image credit: G7

During their meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations urged the development and implementation of global technical standards to ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence.

The main concern is that the policies aimed at establishing universal rules in the sphere of AI usage has not kept up with its rapid advancement.

The G7 leaders emphasized in a joint statement that the regulations governing digital technologies, including AI, should align with democratic values.

This agreement followed a recent initiative by the European Union towards enacting legislation to regulate AI. This potential legislation could become the world’s first comprehensive AI law and may serve as a model for other countries.

“We want AI systems to be accurate, reliable, safe and non-discriminatory, regardless of their origin,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.

The concerns about the widespread and often nearly uncontrolled usage of artificial intelligence technologies emerged after OpenAI introduced its ChatGPT, and were further strengthened after leading industry figures and AI experts called for a six-month halt in the development of more advanced AI systems, citing potential societal risks.

A month later, lawmakers urged global leaders to find methods to regulate AI technologies, as their progress was outpacing expectations.

The United States has maintained a cautious approach to AI governance, with President Joe Biden recently stating that the danger posed by AI remains uncertain. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, which is supported by Microsoft, testified before a Senate panel and suggested that the U.S. should consider implementing licensing and testing requirements for the development of AI models.

Japan, as the current chair of the G7, expressed support for both public and industrial adoption of AI while also monitoring its associated risks. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the importance of effectively managing both the potential benefits and risks of AI during a meeting with the government’s AI council last week.

Written by Alius Noreika

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