The Group of Seven Nations’ leaders called on Saturday for the development and acceptance of technical standards to ensure that artificial intelligence remains “trustworthy.”
While the G7 leaders acknowledged that approaches to attaining “the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary,” they stated in a statement that laws for digital technologies such as AI should be “in line with our shared democratic values.”
The accord comes after the European Union, a G7 member, moved closer this month to drafting laws to govern AI technology, potentially the world’s first comprehensive AI law that may set a precedent among major countries.
Elon Musk and a group of AI scientists raised an alarm in March, calling for a six-month moratorium on developing more powerful systems, citing potential societal hazards.
A month later, EU parliamentarians urged international leaders to find measures to manage AI technology, claiming that they were evolving at a quicker rate than envisaged.
Japan, this year’s G7 chair, has been even more accommodating, vowing support for public and industrial AI deployment while keeping an eye on the hazards.
“It’s important to properly deal with both the potentials and risks,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last week to the government’s AI council.
The difference in Western approaches to AI contrast with China’s limited stance. In April, the country’s internet regulator published draught legislation to align generative AI-powered services with the country’s core socialist ideals.
