Uncertainties persist over gathering’s ability to assist PM in achieving UK’s global influence goal.
While uncertainty surrounds the attendees and outcomes of Rishi Sunak’s upcoming AI safety summit, his government is determined to consider it a crucial initial stride in addressing a rapidly evolving subject even experts struggle to grasp fully. Concerns within No 10 about a potential shortage of world leaders at the summit due to the Israel-Gaza conflict have somewhat eased, as the participation of Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, has been confirmed.
The UK government has secured an early success as prominent AI firms, such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind, have disclosed their safety policies in response to a request from Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan.
Nevertheless, it is uncertain how many high-profile individuals will journey to Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, on Wednesday or Thursday, and whether any representatives from China will be present.
The event at this historic country house, once the hub of World War II code-breaking operations, holds a special significance for Sunak. In his Thursday address on AI, he emphasized the potential existential risks associated with the technology while also endeavoring to provide reassurance to the public, assuring them that there is no need for excessive concern.
Officials who have collaborated with the Prime Minister on the summit are downplaying the significance of who may or may not attend. They are also dismissive of whether Vice President Harris’s decision to deliver a separate speech in London on the US approach to the subject on the first day of the event should be seen as a snub. They argue that the urgency of obtaining answers leaves no room for delay.
Sunak is receiving briefings indicating that the upcoming models of what is known as frontier AI, designed for a wide range of tasks, are expected to become available in under a year. These models are incredibly powerful, estimated to be approximately 10 billion times more capable than their counterparts from a decade ago. Even the creators of these models cannot be certain of the extent of their potential achievements.
The spokesperson emphasized, “I won’t engage in speculating about attendance. However, we are determined to assemble the right coalition of nations and businesses, and I am confident that we will achieve that.”
The event’s structure involves a broader first day led by Donelan, during which ministers, tech companies, and experts will convene to deliberate the challenges and risks associated with frontier AI.
On the second day, Donelan will convene smaller groups for a discussion on potential regulations for the technology. Simultaneously, Sunak will engage in discussions with what is described as “a select group of like-minded countries and companies,” with China notably not included.
It is not anticipated that the summit will yield concrete regulatory proposals, and Sunak’s vision of the UK becoming a global hub for such efforts remains an aspirational goal.
At the very least, he harbors optimism that the country can assume a prominent position in such initiatives, in partnership with the United States. The concept of the summit originated during a visit to Washington in June.
