EU and Chinese officials to participate in Britain’s AI Safety Summit

EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Vera Jourova will attend the AI safety summit in the UK hosted by British PM Rishi Sunak, along with representatives from the Chinese government and various companies and academic institutions, aiming to initiate international dialogue on AI regulation despite some world leaders’ absence raising concerns about its practical impact.
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The EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Vera Jourova have confirmed their participation in the upcoming AI safety summit in the UK, set to take place from 1-2 November. The event, hosted by British PM Rishi Sunak at Bletchley Park, aims to start the international dialogue on AI regulation. However, concerns have been raised about the practical impact of the summit, as some world leaders, including Olaf Scholz of Germany and Justin Trudeau of Canada, will not be attending.

The European Commission initially did not confirm the attendance of any EU representatives but has now updated von der Leyen and Jourova’s official calendars to confirm their participation, solidifying the EU’s involvement in the event.

The Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology Wu Zhaohui, has also confirmed its participation. Representatives from the Chinese foreign ministry, prominent companies, and academic bodies, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will also be present.

The published agenda for the summit focuses on addressing the unpredictable advances of AI technology and the potential loss of human control over it. As AI evolves rapidly, regulations and ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important. Matt Clifford, one of the event’s chief organisers, emphasised that the event is primarily aimed at initiating international dialogue on AI regulation rather than creating binding laws or treaties.