ethics Archives

UK paper highlights AI risks ahead of global Safety Summit

The UK Government has unveiled a comprehensive paper addressing the capabilities and risks associated with frontier AI.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has spoken today on the global responsibility to confront the risks highlighted in the report and harness AI’s potential. Sunak emphasised the need for honest dialogue about the dual nature of AI: offering unprecedented opportunities, while also posing significant dangers.

“AI will bring new knowledge, new opportunities...

26 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Nightshade ‘poisons’ AI models to fight copyright theft

University of Chicago researchers have unveiled Nightshade, a tool designed to disrupt AI models attempting to learn from artistic imagery.

The tool – still in its developmental phase – allows artists to protect their work by subtly altering pixels in images, rendering them imperceptibly different to the human eye but confusing to AI models.

Many artists and creators have expressed concern over the use of their work in training commercial AI products without their...

24 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK reveals AI Safety Summit opening day agenda

The UK Government has unveiled plans for the inaugural global AI Safety Summit, scheduled to take place at the historic Bletchley Park.

The summit will bring together digital ministers, AI companies, civil society representatives, and independent experts for crucial discussions. The primary focus is on frontier AI, the most advanced generation of AI models, which – if not developed responsibly – could pose significant risks.

The event aims to explore both the...

16 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK races to agree statement on AI risks with global leaders

Downing Street officials find themselves in a race against time to finalise an agreed communique from global leaders concerning the escalating concerns surrounding artificial intelligence.

This hurried effort comes in anticipation of the UK’s AI Safety Summit scheduled next month at the historic Bletchley Park.

The summit, designed to provide an update on White House-brokered safety guidelines – as well as facilitate a debate on how national security agencies can...

10 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK deputy PM warns UN that AI regulation is falling behind advances

In a stark address to the UN, UK Deputy PM Oliver Dowden has sounded the alarm on the potentially destabilising impact of AI on the world order.

Dowden has urged governments to take immediate action to regulate AI development, warning that the rapid pace of advancement in AI technology could outstrip their ability to ensure its safe and responsible use.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Dowden highlighted that the UK will host a global summit in November...

22 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

IFOW: AI can have a positive impact on jobs

In a world where sensational headlines about AI and autonomous robots dominate the media landscape, a new report sheds light on a different narrative.

The research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, explores the nuanced impacts of AI adoption on jobs and work quality. Contrary to the doomsday predictions, the report suggests that AI could have a positive influence on employment and job quality.

The study, conducted by the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW),...

20 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

CMA sets out principles for responsible AI development

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set out its principles to ensure the responsible development and use of foundation models (FMs).

FMs are versatile AI systems with the potential to revolutionise various sectors, from information access to healthcare. The CMA's report, published today, outlines a set of guiding principles aimed at safeguarding consumer protection and fostering healthy competition within this burgeoning industry.

Foundation models – known...

19 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK to pitch AI’s potential for international development at UN

The UK is pitching its vision for leveraging AI’s potential to accelerate development in the world's most impoverished nations during the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The vision was set out by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and calls upon international partners to collaborate and coordinate their efforts in harnessing AI for development in Africa and making progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of its efforts, the UK is launching the 'AI...

18 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK government outlines AI Safety Summit plans

The UK government has announced plans for the global AI Safety Summit on 1-2 November 2023.

The major event – set to be held at Bletchley Park, home of Alan Turing and other Allied codebreakers during the Second World War – aims to address the pressing challenges and opportunities presented by AI development on both national and international scales.

Secretary of State Michelle Donelan has officially launched the formal engagement process leading up to the summit....

4 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT’s political bias highlighted in study

A study conducted by computer and information science researchers from the UK and Brazil has raised concerns about the objectivity of ChatGPT.

The researchers claim to have discovered substantial political bias in ChatGPT's responses, leaning towards the left side of the political spectrum.

Published in the journal Public Choice this week, the study – conducted by Fabio Motoki, Valdemar Pinho, and Victor Rodrigues – argues that the presence of political bias in...