South Korea Urges Global Cooperation on AI Technology

South Korea's science and information technology minister emphasises the necessity of global cooperation in AI development. 16 tech companies voluntarily commit to developing AI safely. 14 companies, including Google and Microsoft, pledge to use methods like watermarking to identify AI-generated content.

Credit: REUTERS

Lee, who co-hosted a global AI meeting in Seoul with Britain, emphasised the importance of collaboration in addressing issues such as job security, copyright, and inequality.

The summit recently finished, with 16 tech companies voluntarily committing to the safe development of AI. Furthermore, 14 businesses, including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, signed a separate promise to use techniques such as watermarking to identify AI-generated content. The firms also promised to encourage employment development and help socially vulnerable groups.

Lee emphasised that cooperation is not an option but a requirement in the realm of AI. He stated in an interview with Reuters, "The Seoul summit has further shaped AI safety talks and added discussions about innovation and inclusivity." Lee expressed his expectation that future summits would focus on increased collaboration in establishing AI safety institutes.

The first global AI conference was held in Britain last November, and the next in-person event is expected to take place in France, maybe in 2025. During the recent meeting, ministers and officials from many countries discussed how state-backed AI safety institutes may work together to properly govern the technology.

While AI specialists praised the progress made in establishing legislation, some stressed the importance of enforced guidelines. According to Francine Bennett, Director of the AI-focused Ada Lovelace Institute, "We need to move past voluntary... the people affected should be setting the rules via governments." Max Tegmark, president of the Future of Life Institute, has advocated for AI services to meet required safety requirements before entering the market. This approach will ensure that businesses choose safety over profit, avoiding potential public backlash from unintended harm caused by AI systems.

Minister Lee admitted that rules frequently lag behind rapid advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). However, he highlighted the importance of flexible laws and regulations to ensure that the public may use AI safely.

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• South Korea's science and information technology minister emphasises the necessity of global cooperation in AI development.

• 16 tech companies voluntarily commit to developing AI safely.

• 14 companies, including Google and Microsoft, pledge to use methods like watermarking to identify AI-generated content.

Source: REUTERS