Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had harbored lofty aspirations for his forthcoming AI summit, envisaging it as a forum where the world’s paramount leaders would convene with industry stalwarts to address the “catastrophic” potential of technology. However, with fewer than two weeks remaining, the roster of dignitaries falls short of global leadership.
Regrettably, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have conveyed their intentions to skip the gathering on November 1-2 at Bletchley Park, sources familiar with the matter disclosed on the condition of anonymity, citing provisional plans. Moreover, French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Premier Fumio Kishida have yet to finalize their participation, leaving Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni as the sole G7 leader, apart from the host, who has formally enrolled thus far.
While there remains a window for last-minute additions, the dearth of top-tier heads of state casts a shadow over the event’s prominence. The United Kingdom endeavors to spearhead a unified global stance on artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need for development and regulation of a technology that Sunak has portrayed as “paradigm-shifting” yet laden with concomitant risks necessitating vigilant “guardrails.”
Nevertheless, nations have made headway in crafting a collective approach to AI—Britain’s overarching objective for convening the summit. A preliminary communique seen by Bloomberg this week underscores a consensus on characterizing AI as possessing the potential for “catastrophic harm.” The document delves into specific concerns pertaining to AI’s implications for cybersecurity and biotechnology. The officials aim to crystallize the final text by October 25.
Despite the notable absentees among the highest echelons of leadership, all invited nations have committed to dispatching senior delegates, sources inform. US Vice President Kamala Harris and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo are slated to attend, and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping has designated emissaries in his stead. Canada will send Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, while Germany will be represented by Digital Minister Volker Wissing.
The British government released a statement, stating, “International representation will fluctuate by country. As is customary for summits of this nature, attendee confirmations are typically withheld until closer to the event, yet we maintain confidence in the presence of appropriate stakeholders.”
An impeding development centers on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose attendance seems increasingly improbable due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, sources disclosed. Furthermore, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen’s presence appears uncertain due to the same conflict.
Approximately 100 delegates hailing from 28 nations are slated to convene at the summit. The event, commencing on November 1, will showcase an assembly of corporations and industry luminaries, hosted by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, while the subsequent day will witness a more exclusive gathering of major enterprises and governments, convened by Sunak.
The significance of this summit extends beyond its composition, as Sunak seeks to affirm his global leadership role and assert the United Kingdom’s position as a trendsetter. Anand Menon, Director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, aptly noted, “It will be during meetings with the US and EU that global policies on AI will be shaped. The UK, in isolation, lacks the market influence to singlehandedly influence these monumental decisions.”
Sunak is also eager to welcome a distinguished array of senior executives from prominent technology companies. Invitations have been extended to the Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI, Sam Altman, and the CEO of Adobe Inc., Shantanu Narayen, though neither has confirmed their attendance. It is expected that Brad Smith, the President of Microsoft Corp., will be present.
Additionally, the summit anticipates the participation of influential figures such as former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who presently holds the position of President of Global Affairs at Meta Platforms Inc., as well as James Manyika and Demis Hassabis from Alphabet Inc.’s Google and DeepMind Technologies Ltd., respectively. Notably, Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Mustafa Suleyman of Inflection AI, and Aidan Gomez of Cohere have all confirmed their presence.
For Suleyman, this event holds profound personal and professional significance, underscoring the growing relevance of issues that warrant collective attention. “It is a pivotal moment for me and our field, as these concerns are accorded the gravity they deserve, compelling all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue,” Suleyman remarked.
The United Kingdom’s ambition is to institute biannual intergovernmental and technology summits, fostering regulations that adapt to the ever-evolving technological landscape. A supporting draft document accompanying the communique outlines proposals for establishing a panel of experts, drawn from diverse countries, tasked with compiling an annual “state of the science” report concerning AI safety.
Anticipated discussions at the summit will delve into the intricate subject of cybersecurity threats, biotechnology implications, and the specter of AI-driven election disruptions. Privately, members of the British Cabinet have expressed apprehensions about the potential use of so-called deepfake AI during the upcoming national elections in the following year.
Securing a consensus at this summit remains an ambitious endeavor for Sunak, particularly given the disparate viewpoints of nations worldwide. A senior minister voiced concerns that US technology conglomerates might exert influence on President Biden to promote a minimalistic regulatory framework, thereby preserving the prospect of future trillion-dollar AI enterprises.
While the United States has expressed support for Britain’s initiatives, the minister acknowledges that the UK bears the onus of orchestrating the delicate task of harmonizing the positions of diverse nations. Conversely, another high-ranking British minister speculated that China would advocate for stringent state regulations on AI, aligning with their overarching philosophy of safeguarding critical national infrastructure.
Suleyman aptly summed up the changing landscape by emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach, departing from the adversarial relationship between industry and regulators of yesteryears. He underlined the necessity for concerted efforts, right from the outset, toward addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by AI.