Photo: ANP
Further development of artificial intelligence (AI) requires additional regulations. Ministers of the Group of Seven, a group of seven rich countries including, for example, Germany and the United States, agreed to this at a summit in Japan.
In a joint statement, they stated that the rules should be designed in a way that maintains an “open and stimulating environment” for this emerging technology. In doing so, the countries want to stimulate mutual discussion on “how to protect intellectual property rights, including copyright, promote transparency and tackle disinformation.”
Artificial intelligence develops computer systems that approach human intelligence. For example, chat programs such as ChatGPT can write scripts that appear to have been written by a human being. Although the meeting of ministers acknowledged that each country is free to come up with its own approach in this field, the G7 statement appears to be an important achievement in the international discussion on artificial intelligence.
Recently, the strong progress of artificial intelligence has been the subject of much criticism. More than 27,000 people worldwide have signed an open letter calling for a halt to its development. There are concerns, among other things, that many people will lose their jobs if more and more powerful AI systems become available. In addition, according to the letter, there is a risk that these programs could flood the Internet with propaganda and falsehoods.
“A pause is not the right solution,” says French Minister of Digital Transformation Jean-Noel Barrot. According to him, innovation must be allowed to continue, “but within certain safeguards that democracies must put in place.” The European Union in Brussels is also already working on a European law for artificial intelligence, which EU countries will likely decide on later this year. “The results of the G7 meeting show that we are certainly not alone in this,” said the responsible European Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager.
