The United States and Britain have formed a new partnership focused on the science of artificial intelligence (AI) safety. This collaboration was announced amidst growing concerns about next-generation versions of AI. Michelle Donelan, the British technology secretary, and Gina Raimondo, the US commerce secretary, signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington to work together on advanced AI model testing.
Raimondo emphasized the importance of AI as a defining technology of our generation and highlighted the need for national security concerns and societal issues to be addressed. The formal agreement includes plans for joint testing exercises on publicly accessible models, potential personnel exchanges between institutes in both countries, and efforts to establish similar partnerships with other nations to promote AI safety worldwide.
Generative AI has raised both excitement and fears about its impact on society. Britain and the US intend to exchange crucial information on AI capabilities and risks, as well as conduct technical research on AI safety and security. The Biden administration signed an executive order in October while the commerce department proposed regulations for US cloud companies regarding the training of AI models in January. Meanwhile, Britain has pledged over £100 million to launch new research hubs and educate regulators on the technology.
As we continue to advance in this field, it is essential that we take steps to ensure that these technologies are developed safely and responsibly. This partnership between the United States and Britain is an important step towards achieving that goal.
