Governments around the world face mounting pressure to swiftly address the risks associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
G7 leaders have emphasized the urgent need to evaluate the impact of generative AI and announced their intention to initiate discussions this year regarding the responsible utilization of this technology.
To tackle various concerns ranging from copyright infringement to disinformation, the G7 nations released a final communique during the summit in Hiroshima, Japan, affirming the establishment of a working group.
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AI and Copyright
The G7 statement acknowledges the pressing need to assess both the opportunities and challenges posed by generative AI, which has gained increasing prominence across various countries and sectors.
Text generation tools like ChatGPT, AI-based image creators, and algorithmically composed music have evoked mixed reactions, eliciting both delight and alarm. Creators have accused these tools of utilizing their materials without permission, leading to legal disputes.
Governments worldwide are under significant pressure to mitigate the associated risks of AI promptly. The CEO of OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, recently emphasized to US lawmakers the essentiality of regulating AI.
The G7 has tasked relevant ministers with establishing the Hiroshima AI process through an inclusive G7 working group. The aim is to facilitate discussions on generative AI by the end of the year.
These discussions will cover a wide range of topics, including governance, the protection of intellectual property rights (including copyrights), the promotion of transparency, combating foreign information manipulation (including disinformation), and the responsible use of these technologies.
Working groups to collaborate with OECD, GPAI
According to the statement, the newly formed working group will collaborate with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), which consists of developed countries.
The initiative will focus on responsible AI, data governance, the future of work, and innovation, among other areas.
The partnership aims to bring together experts and stakeholders from science, industry, and government to advance the development and deployment of AI in a manner that is beneficial for all.
OpenAI CEO testifies
During his testimony before a US Senate panel recently, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, called on Congress to enact new regulations for big tech companies.
Altman expressed his belief that generative AI developed by his company could eventually contribute to addressing significant global challenges such as climate change and cancer treatment.
However, he emphasized that regulatory intervention by governments is crucial to mitigate the risks associated with increasingly powerful AI models.
In a separate development, European Parliament lawmakers have taken an initial step towards implementing EU-wide regulations for ChatGPT and other AI systems. The proposed legislation will be presented to the full parliament for adoption next month, followed by negotiations with EU member states to finalize the law.
The G7 highlighted that while rapid technological advancements have brought benefits to societies and economies, the international governance of new digital technologies has not kept pace. The group emphasized the importance of updating the governance of the digital economy, including AI and emerging technologies like immersive metaverses, in accordance with shared democratic values. These values encompass principles such as fairness, respect for privacy, and protection from online harassment, hate, and abuse, among others.