In a bid to address the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI), G7 leaders have emphasized the need for urgent assessment and responsible use of the technology. The announcement came during a summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where the seven leading economies revealed plans to initiate discussions this year. A dedicated working group will be established to tackle various issues related to generative AI, ranging from copyright concerns to disinformation challenges.
Generative AI has captured attention and triggered a wide range of reactions, including delight, alarm, and legal disputes. Critics accuse AI-powered text generation tools like ChatGPT, AI-generated images, and AI-composed music of scraping material without proper permission. This has prompted governments worldwide to act swiftly in order to mitigate associated risks. OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, highlighted the importance of AI regulation during a recent session with U.S. lawmakers.
The G7 statement underlines the necessity to evaluate the opportunities and challenges posed by generative AI, given its increasing prominence across various countries and sectors. In response, the statement outlines the establishment of the Hiroshima AI process through a G7 working group, ensuring inclusivity. This initiative aims to facilitate discussions on generative AI by the end of the year, covering topics such as governance, safeguarding intellectual property rights, promoting transparency, addressing foreign information manipulation and disinformation, and encouraging responsible utilization of these technologies.
The newly formed working group will collaborate with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). By joining forces, these organizations intend to foster comprehensive efforts in dealing with the challenges associated with generative AI. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, testified before a U.S. Senate panel, emphasizing the need for regulatory intervention by governments to mitigate the risks associated with increasingly powerful AI models. Altman envisions generative AI as a potential solution for humanity’s most significant challenges, such as climate change and curing cancer, but stresses the importance of appropriate regulations.
The European Parliament has also taken initial steps towards EU-wide regulation of AI systems, including ChatGPT. The proposed legislation will soon be presented to the full parliament for adoption, followed by negotiations with EU member states to finalize the law.
The G7 acknowledges that while rapid technological advancements have strengthened societies and economies, international governance of emerging digital technologies has not necessarily kept pace. They emphasize the need to update the governance of the digital economy, including AI and other emerging technologies like immersive metaverses, in accordance with shared democratic values. These values encompass fairness, privacy protection, and safeguarding individuals from online harassment, hate speech, and abuse.