EU Is Not Sure About Britain's AI Summit: To Attend Or Not To Attend, That Is The Question

The European Union is contemplating participating in an artificial intelligence safety summit in the U.K. that is scheduled for November.

In a developing situation, the European Union, or EU, is reportedly contemplating participating in the forthcoming artificial intelligence safety summit in the U.K. that is scheduled for November.

What Happened: The summit, organized by U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, seeks to unite governments, tech firms, and academics to discuss the potential risks posed by AI, reported Reuters

However, the attendees’ list remains undisclosed, with several entities choosing not to reveal their invitation status.

Vera Jourova, the European Commission vice president, has reportedly received a formal invitation to the event. 

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Despite the secrecy around the invitees, several world leaders, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, are expected to be at the summit. 

Recently, the UK government justified its decision to invite China, the world’s second-largest economy, to the summit. “If you’re trying to create structures that make AI something that overall is a net benefit to humanity, then you can’t just ignore the second-biggest economy in the world.”

It is pertinent to note that the EU is on the verge of introducing its AI Act, a novel piece of legislation, while the UK is positioning itself as a global frontrunner in AI regulation.

The proposed EU legislation demands that organizations using high-risk AI systems must log their operations, carry out detailed risk evaluations, and disclose certain internal data to authorities. 

However, the U.K. government reportedly favors a more lenient approach to AI regulation.

Why It Matters: The UK’s ambitious plans for AI regulation were highlighted by Prime Minister Sunak at the commencement of London Tech Week in June, as reported. 

At the time, he emphasized the urgency of action required to address the potential risks posed by AI while fostering innovation.

U.S. President Joe Biden has also acknowledged the “enormous promise” of AI during a meeting with experts but stressed the need to address its potential risks, indicating that the regulatory framework in the U.S. requires an update.

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