UK to host first global summit on Artificial Intelligence

As the world grapples with the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the UK will host the first major global summit on AI safety, the Prime Minister has announced.

In his visit to Washington DC this week, the Prime Minister appeared keen to stress the importance of likeminded allies and companies working to develop an international framework to ensure the safe and reliable development and use of AI.

The summit, which will be hosted in the UK this autumn, will consider the risks of AI, including frontier systems, and discuss how they can be mitigated through internationally coordinated action. It will also provide a platform for countries to work together on further developing a shared approach to mitigate these risks.

According to figures quoted by the Government, the UK AI sector contributes £3.7 billion to the UK economy and employs 50,000 people across the country.

The Prime Minister said: "AI has an incredible potential to transform our lives for the better. But we need to make sure it is developed and used in a way that is safe and secure.

"Time and time again throughout history we have invented paradigm-shifting new technologies and we have harnessed them for the good of humanity. That is what we must do again.

"No one country can do this alone. This is going to take a global effort. But with our vast expertise and commitment to an open, democratic international system, the UK will stand together with our allies to lead the way."

Reacting to the news on LinkedIn, Bristol-based AI ethics expert Karin Rudolph said: "This is good news, but we also need representatives from civil society and academia involved in this debate."