UK Launches £100 Million Frontier AI Taskforce to Address Risks & Enhance Global Safety
The UK government has launched a £100 million Frontier AI Taskforce aimed at addressing the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and enhancing global safety. The taskforce, which is the first of its kind globally, will focus on assessing risks at the forefront of AI and safeguarding against potential dangers. The announcement was made by Viscount Camrose, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
One of the key initiatives of the taskforce is the upcoming AI Safety Summit, scheduled to take place on November 1 to 2, 2023, at Bletchley Park. This summit will bring together leading countries, technology organizations, academia, and civil society to discuss the risks associated with powerful AI systems and explore how frontier AI can be safely harnessed for the public good. Topics such as biosecurity and the responsible use of AI in fields like medical technology and transportation safety will be covered.
To ensure effective collaboration and prepare for the summit, the UK government has initiated pre-summit engagement with countries and frontier AI organizations. The government has outlined five key objectives for the summit, including fostering a shared understanding of the risks associated with frontier AI, establishing international collaboration on AI safety, encouraging organizations to adopt measures that enhance AI safety, identifying areas for potential collaboration in AI safety research, and showcasing the global benefits of safe AI development.
The taskforce has already made significant progress since its establishment 12 weeks ago. It has formed an External Advisory Board consisting of renowned experts such as Turing Prize laureate Yoshua Bengio, GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler, and Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Collins, among others. The advisory board will provide valuable guidance and expertise to steer the taskforce’s work.
In addition to the advisory board, the taskforce has partnered with leading frontier AI organizations and has started recruiting a world-class research team. Researchers Yarin Gal from Oxford and David Kreuger from Cambridge will contribute to shaping the research program. These research efforts will be complemented by a team of civil servants, further strengthening the UK’s AI capabilities and addressing public sector use cases.
The UK government has also taken steps to establish a regulatory framework for AI. Earlier this year, it published the AI Regulation White Paper, outlining principles to govern AI and mechanisms to adapt the regulatory framework as technology evolves. The government is set to publish its response to the received feedback later this year, considering outcomes from the AI Safety Summit.
To improve coordination and clarity across the regulatory landscape, the government is collaborating with the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DCRF) to pilot a multi-regulator advisory service for AI and digital innovators known as the DRCF AI and Digital Hub. This initiative will provide tailored support to innovators navigating the AI regulatory landscape.
By launching the Frontier AI Taskforce and organizing the AI Safety Summit, the UK government demonstrates its commitment to responsible AI development and addressing associated risks. With £100 million allocated to the taskforce, the UK aims to maintain its leadership in AI safety and innovation while enhancing global safety and security.
