Rösti speaks of opportunities and risks of the technology at AI summit
Published: Thursday, Nov 2nd 2023, 17:40
Updated At: Friday, Nov 3rd 2023, 00:54
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Federal Councillor Albert Rösti attended the first international summit on the security of artificial intelligence (AI) in the United Kingdom on Thursday. Speaking in Bletchley near London, Rösti stressed the need to exploit the opportunities offered by AI while taking appropriate and overall account of the technological, geopolitical and societal risks.
The head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications also spoke at the two-day event about the Council of Europe's AI Convention, Rösti's department announced on Thursday. The convention is currently being drafted under Switzerland's presidency.
This convention represents a "unique opportunity" for all countries committed to democracy and the rule of law. The aim is to create a common framework that fosters innovation while ensuring that fundamental rights are respected in the use of AI. In this way, trust in AI would be strengthened.
Von der Leyen, Sunak, Harris, Guterres
The conference, which was attended by representatives of almost 30 countries, including China, as well as major technology groups, is seen as an early step towards an international understanding on the regulation of the rapidly developing sector. There are also efforts to set standards within the framework of the G7 countries as well as in the USA and the European Union.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed at the conference that one should learn from other technologies. Nuclear power, she said, has also been used for good purposes, such as energy production, but also as a bomb. There is a need for free and well-equipped researchers to assess risks.
She also spoke of the fact that in negotiations currently underway on an EU AI law, the establishment of a European office for AI is being discussed. This could enforce common rules in all 27 EU member states, von der Leyen said. The summit was also attended by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
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