UK Appoints Tech Expert and Former Diplomat to Lead Preparations for Global Summit on AI

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed Britain as a candidate for leader in ensuring the security of technology (photo: dock. @RishiSunak)

JAKARTA - The UK government has selected technology expert Matt Clifford and former senior diplomat Jonathan Black to lead preparations for a global meeting on artificial intelligence (AI) to be held later this year.

The two figures will be tasked with gathering political leaders, AI companies and experts before the event is held next fall, the government announced on Thursday, 10 August.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last June previously proposed Britain as a potential leader in ensuring the security of this rapidly developing technology. He expressed his desire to make the country "not just an intellectual home, but also a geographic home" for AI regulation.

Governments around the world are trying to control the potential negative impacts of AI without stifling innovation. However, Sunak's government has not announced the date of the event or who is expected to attend.

The EU has stepped in with its proposed "AI Act" which aims to become a global benchmark in this fast-evolving technology. However, several other countries prefer a "wait and see" approach or tend to more flexible regulations.

The UK has opted to split AI regulatory responsibilities between agencies overseeing human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than creating a new body specifically dealing with the technology.

Leaders from the G7 economic group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, the United States, and the European Union, in May, urged the adoption of standards to create "trustworthy" AI and set up a ministerial forum known as " Hiroshima AI Process".