Sunak Pushes US-UK Global AI Governance Pact
LONDON – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is embarking on a mission to establish the United Kingdom as a frontrunner in global artificial intelligence (AI) governance. Sunak aims to leverage AI standards as a soft power tool while boosting the emerging AI sector in Britain. However, the UK faces challenges in becoming a central leader in global AI governance, causing Sunak to solicit an AI governance partnership with the United States during his trip to Washington this month.
The UK’s Obstacles
The UK is facing challenges as it finds itself playing catch-up on the world stage after leaving the European Union in 2020 and being excluded from crucial global AI governance forums. Britain is further hampered as the EU, US, and Canada have already agreed to develop an AI code of conduct, which will be presented to other G7 countries, including the UK.
As the UK strives to lead global AI governance, it is also grappling with how to govern AI on the domestic front. Parliament’s focus on AI represents a marked shift from its previous pro-innovation and light-touch approach. The growing international concerns surrounding the potential impacts of AI and the calls for its regulation have prompted a more cautious stance.
The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) now holds regular meetings to discuss AI, and Sunak’s close aides are actively engaged with the issue. While new regulation is not expected to be created at this stage, more tools and funding might be available to existing regulators.
Sunak’s Proposals
Despite these obstacles, Sunak’s grand plan includes hosting an international AI summit in London where a gathering of like-minded countries will discuss the risks and regulation of AI. Additionally, Sunak has expressed interest in establishing a global watchdog on AI, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and an international research body like CERN, a European nuclear research organization.
https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1666742625573957635
With these initiatives, Sunak hopes to garner support from like-minded allies and position the UK as a prominent voice in shaping the future of global AI governance. With Sunak’s initiatives, Britain seeks to play a bridging role between the more stringent EU approach and the relatively hands-off attitude of the US, aiming to amplify the voices of other countries, such as Japan and Canada, where plans are still in their early stages.
UK-US Global AI Governance Pact
The UK’s AI task force will play a crucial role in determining how the country governs AI. Britain’s tech envoy to the US, Joe White, promotes a balanced approach to AI regulation, aiming to entice the US to align with the UK’s light-touch approach as the international standard.
However, the UK’s ability to influence AI governance from outside the EU – even with the US as a partner – remains to be seen. Sunak’s visit to Washington this month allows him to demonstrate Britain's meaningful contribution to the global AI governance landscape. The success of Sunak’s endeavor will become clearer as he engages in more discussions with international counterparts.
