Global AI Security Agreement Signed Amid US-China Tensions

Major Countries Sign AI Security Agreement Amid US-China Tensions

18 countries and 22 law enforcement and intelligence agencies have signed an international agreement on AI safety over the weekend, amidst ongoing tensions between the United States and China. The agreement aims to ensure the safe development of new versions of AI technology from the design phase onwards. It includes recommendations for monitoring the misuse of AI systems, protecting data, and assessing software suppliers. However, China, a leading AI development powerhouse, has been excluded from the agreement.

EU AI Legislation and Biden’s Executive Order

This agreement comes a few months after the European Union signed an AI law that prohibits certain AI technologies and classifies high-risk AI systems. In the United States, President Joe Biden signed an executive order in October to regulate AI development. According to the order, developers of powerful AI models are required to share safety outcomes and critical information with the government.

Concerns and Lawsuits

The agreement emphasizes the need for safe and responsible development, deployment, and operation of AI systems. It acknowledges that AI systems can be exposed to new security vulnerabilities, including adversarial machine learning, which strategically exploits weaknesses in machine learning components and has the potential to disrupt or deceive AI systems.

While the AI security agreement provides general recommendations, it does not address complex issues related to the proper application of AI or data collection methods for AI models. Within the United States, there are ongoing civil lawsuits regarding compliance with copyright laws for AI models. Authors are suing OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement and intellectual property violations.

Exclusion of China and Global Impact

China, a major player in AI development, did not sign the AI security agreement. The country faces trade sanctions that restrict access to high-performance silicon, which is essential for AI development. The chairman of TSMC argues that excluding China from the agreement would result in global innovation stagnation and fragmentation of globalization.

The Future of AI Lawsuits

The future of AI lawsuits remains uncertain. OpenAI and other defendants are utilizing defense strategies such as lack of standing and principles of fair use in the lawsuits. Courts are approaching early AI litigation cases with skepticism. Concerns are growing regarding the impact of AI on traditional creative and journalism industries.

Overall Implications

The international AI security agreement, signed by major countries, highlights the importance of safe and responsible AI development. However, with China’s exclusion and ongoing legal issues, questions arise about the effectiveness and future impact of such agreements.