South Korea is set to host the second global AI safety summit, continuing the collaborative efforts initiated by the “Bletchley Declaration” to address AI safety concerns and establish global norms for governance.
13 April 2024 – South Korea is set to host the second global AI safety summit on May 21-22, following in the footsteps of Britain’s inaugural event held at Bletchley Park six months prior. Government officials announced that the summit will build upon the “Bletchley Declaration,” a collaborative agreement among nations, including the U.S. and China, to address AI safety concerns.
The announcement comes amidst growing discussions surrounding the risks and benefits of AI technology, particularly highlighted by the release of ChatGPT by Microsoft-backed OpenAI in late 2022. While some have expressed admiration for the advancements, others, like former Google researcher Geoffrey Hinton and entrepreneur Elon Musk, have raised alarms about the potential threats posed by AI.
The first AI Safety Summit in November last year convened world leaders, tech executives, and academics to discuss regulatory frameworks for AI. Following the event, over 25 government representatives signed a joint declaration committing to collaboration and establishing a common approach to oversight.
Recognizing the rapid pace of AI development, it was agreed that future summits would occur biannually. South Korea will host a primarily virtual summit in May, with France scheduled to host the subsequent in-person event later in 2024.
Lee Jong-Ho of South Korea’s ministry of science and information and communication technology emphasized the significance of the upcoming summit, stating, “The AI Safety Summit held in Bletchley last year marked a milestone in which the government, industry, and academia came together to address the potential risks of AI, and I am pleased that the Republic of Korea takes the baton from the UK.” He underscored the importance of establishing global norms and governance to harness technological innovations for the betterment of humanity. – ref: Reuters
