The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) marked a significant milestone by initiating efforts to establish a unified global framework for regulating artificial intelligence (AI). Democratic nations, including India, the US, the UK, France, Japan, and Canada, are driving this ambitious project. The primary focus is on adopting a risk-based approach to AI, with an emphasis on mitigating risks and ensuring equitable access to critical resources.
The GPAI Summit, held recently, led to the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, highlighting the urgency of addressing AI risks and advocating for fair access to essential resources. Notably, China, a global tech powerhouse, is conspicuously absent from the GPAI, and a senior government official hinted at intentional exclusion, suggesting that an invitation is unlikely.
Experts caution that global agreements on AI regulation may be effective mainly among like-minded, rights-respecting countries. Rama Vedashree, an advisor at Dallas Venture Capital, stressed the inevitability of regulatory synergy on a global scale but noted that it would primarily involve nations respecting fundamental rights. She emphasized that emerging principles could foster collaboration between regulations in countries upholding individual rights.
Thomas Schneider, Chair of the Council of Europe Committee on AI, acknowledged that while smaller AI-related challenges might find resolution, addressing larger, complex issues involving numerous stakeholders could prove more challenging. Schneider emphasized that achieving interoperable global AI regulations requires alignment among countries sharing similar values.
Concerns about the proliferation of AI systems were addressed by Schneider, who advocated for a framework preventing the weaponization of AI during wars. Striking a balance between innovation and safety, he underscored the need for regulations incentivizing stakeholders.
Sandip Patel, Managing Director at IBM India & South Asia, welcomed "precision regulation" on AI, advocating for regulations that do not unduly restrict the use of AI systems. Patel sees declarations like the one adopted at the GPAI Summit as blueprints for countries to tailor regulations according to their specific market needs.
As the GPAI paves the way for global AI governance, the delicate balance between fostering innovation and ensuring safety takes center stage. The exclusion of a major player like China raises questions about the practicality of achieving a truly global framework, highlighting the challenge of aligning diverse nations with varying values in the regulation of artificial intelligence.
