What is the Bletchley Declaration from UK’s Global AI Safety Summit and how will it safeguard humans?

The recently concluded UK AI Safety Summit witnessed a historic moment as representatives from 28 countries and the European Union came together to release a declaration named after the venue, Bletchley Park.

This iconic location, where brilliant minds, including the tragic figure Alan Turing, significantly contributed to shortening World War II, served as the backdrop for the creation of the Bletchley Declaration.

Understanding AI’s Promises and Risks
The Bletchley Declaration, though not as groundbreaking as Turing’s famous “bombe” machine, offers a comprehensive snapshot of the global understanding of artificial intelligence’s promises and risks. The document emphasizes the necessity of aligning AI systems with human intent and urges a deeper exploration of AI’s full capabilities.

Furthermore, it acknowledges the potential for severe, even catastrophic, harm caused by AI, whether intentional or unintentional. It highlights the importance of safeguarding human rights, transparency, explainability, fairness, accountability, regulation, safety, human oversight, ethics, bias mitigation, privacy, and data protection.

The Role of Civil Society and Industry
The declaration stresses the importance of civil society’s involvement in addressing AI safety concerns, despite criticism from some civil society groups claiming exclusion from the summit. It also places a significant responsibility on companies developing “frontier” AI systems to ensure their safety through testing, evaluation, and appropriate measures.

Ambiguity and Uncertainty
While the Bletchley Declaration falls short of offering firm commitments and concrete measures, this is understandable given its status as the first of its kind. It reflects the complex negotiations between nations with conflicting interests and legal systems, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and China.

US and China Initiatives
Observers noted the United States’ announcement of its AI Safety Institute during the summit, somewhat overshadowing the recent announcement by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of a UK AI Safety Institute. However, the US made it clear that it intends to collaborate with its British counterpart, suggesting mutual cooperation.

Regarding China’s involvement, the British government aimed to maintain a balance by welcoming China’s participation while being cautious. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden pointed out that certain sessions may not be suitable for China to join, particularly when like-minded countries are collaborating.

Discord and Competition
The Financial Times reported that some Chinese academics attending the summit have expressed support for stricter measures than those outlined in the Bletchley Declaration or US President Joe Biden’s recent executive order to address AI’s “existential risk to humanity.” While not representing the official Chinese stance, it hints at potential disagreements as the US and China compete for AI supremacy.

Promising Start for International Cooperation
While consensus remains elusive, the summit marks a promising start to international cooperation on a topic that only recently gained recognition as a serious global threat. Importantly, these AI safety summits will continue to be held regularly, with the next one scheduled for Korea in six months and another in France a year from now.

The hope is that these events will be as inclusive as the Bletchley Declaration promises, fostering global collaboration on AI safety.