Strategy for safe and inclusive AI development outlined

Two US officials have underlined the Biden administration’s commitment to ensure safe and secure Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems while harnessing AI tools to address global challenges.While acknowledging the uncertainties surrounding the future impact of AI on labour markets, workers, and companies, Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, Nathaniel C Fick, highlighted the importance of prioritising the remarkable benefits and opportunities brought forth by these innovations."And so it is important from the beginning, again that we focus on the incredible benefits and opportunities unlocked by these technological revolutions,” he said at a virtual press briefing on Thursday.Fick drew parallels to the Internet era where job creation and economic growth outweighed the disruptions caused by these breakthroughs.Addressing concerns about the potential risks of AI on jobs and workforce, he emphasised the administration's strategy to anticipate challenges and focus on training and skilling programmes.The goal, he noted, is to equip individuals in developed and developing economies with the necessary skills to thrive in the AI era. The administration recognises its duty to support workers and ensure that no one is left behind in the face of technological advancements."We have a duty I think to try to anticipate those challenges and to focus on training and skilling, and let us not forget as well, we are talking about AI, we are talking about these emerging frontiers of new technology."But we are doing it in a context where one-third of the human beings on this planet are still not connected to the Internet, where a third of humanity still does not have the opportunity to benefit from the upsides of these technologies and so we do."I would argue we have both an interest and obligation as developed economies to do what we can to connect the unconnected all around the world,” Fick said.About China's role in global AI development, Deputy Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Dr Seth Center acknowledged China's status as a leading AI state in terms of research, commercialisation, and talent.To govern the future of AI effectively, he stressed the importance of reaching a global consensus involving all major AI powers, including China."I think rightly one can’t imagine a truly global consensus on the kinds of criteria when we want to govern the future of AI unless all countries including all of the major AI powers have a basic agreement,” Center said.However, he underscored the challenge of reconciling the US approach to AI governance, anchored in the AI Bill of Rights and a rights-based perspective, with China's context of AI utilisation and application.Despite these challenges, Dr Center stressed the need to work towards identifying common guardrails and areas of agreement, particularly around managing risks outlined in principles and commitments. This may include concerns about the proliferation of AI models to actors unresponsive to international norms and rules.