The United States, Britain, and the European Union are set to sign the first international treaty on artificial intelligence (AI) standards.
This landmark agreement aims to create a cohesive framework for AI regulation, emphasising human rights and democratic values, and addressing concerns over fragmented national regulations hindering innovation.
Key Takeaways
- The treaty is the first legally binding international agreement on AI.
- It emphasises human rights and democratic values.
- The treaty was drafted over two years by more than 50 countries.
- Compliance will be monitored, but there are no financial sanctions.
- The treaty will enter into force three months after ratification by five signatories.
A Unified Approach to AI Regulation
The US, EU, and UK are expected to sign the Council of Europe’s convention on AI, which has been in the making for over two years. The convention aims to create a unified approach to AI regulation, focusing on human rights and democratic values. It requires signatories to be accountable for any harmful and discriminatory outcomes of AI systems and ensures that the outputs respect equality and privacy rights.
Peter Kyle, the UK’s minister for science, innovation, and technology, stated, "With innovation that is as fast-moving as AI, it is really important that we get to this first step globally. It’s the first agreement with real teeth globally, and it’s bringing together a very disparate set of nations as well."
Global Participation and Compliance
The treaty was drafted with input from over 50 countries, including Canada, Israel, Japan, and Australia. It is designed to be an open treaty with a potentially global reach, allowing non-EU countries to sign. The treaty will enter into force three months after five signatories, including at least three Council of Europe member states, have ratified it.
Hanne Juncher, the director in charge of the negotiations for the council, mentioned that 10 participants are expected to be among the first to approve it when the convention opens for signatures. She said, "This is confirmation that [the convention] goes beyond Europe and that these signatories were super invested in the negotiations and satisfied with the outcome."
Addressing Industry Concerns
The treaty comes at a time when companies are worried that a patchwork of national regulations could hinder innovation. The EU’s AI Act, which came into force last month, has been divisive among companies building AI software. For instance, Meta has refused to roll out its latest Llama product in the EU due to the new regulations.
Peter Kyle pointed out the importance of having a baseline that goes beyond individual territories. "Companies like Meta, for example, are refusing to roll out their latest Llama product in the EU because of it. So it’s really good to have a baseline which goes beyond just individual territories," he said.
Broader Implications and Future Steps
The signing of the new treaty illustrates a more cohesive, international approach to AI regulation, rather than relying on the so-called Brussels effect. Věra Jourová, vice-president of the European Commission for values and transparency, expressed her satisfaction with the international cooperation. "I am very glad to see so many international partners ready to sign the convention on AI. The new framework sets important steps for the design, development, and use of AI applications, which should bring trust and reassurance that AI innovations are respectful of our values — protecting and promoting human rights, democracy, and rule of law."
The treaty will serve as a blueprint for other countries and regions, promoting responsible innovation while ensuring that AI technologies support respect for human rights and democratic values.
Sources
- US, Britain and Brussels to sign agreement on AI standards, Financial Times.
- International AI Treaty to be signed by EU, UK and US | Euronews, Euronews.com.
- The Australian Financial Review, AFR.
