Global governance and regulations for AI safety

 
Isabella Wilkinson argues that global AI safety lacks a unified definition, resulting in diverse national frameworks that reflect different political values. Despite efforts to harmonize these approaches, significant differences persist, especially between democratic countries and nations like China.

Wilkinson underscores the importance of keeping AI safety benchmarks up-to-date as technology evolves. This dynamic nature of AI safety is crucial to understand, as it highlights the potential of scientist-to-scientist dialogues to depoliticize discussions and foster global cooperation. She advocates for leveraging existing science-policy exchange mechanisms and including diverse scientific expertise to ensure inclusive, scientifically grounded AI safety governance.

Isabella Wilkinson argues that AI safety requires global governance. Yet, there is no consensus on what constitutes "AI safety," leading to diverse national frameworks that reflect distinct political values and priorities. While efforts like the international network of AI safety institutes aim to harmonize these approaches, substantial differences remain between democratic countries (such as Canada, the US, the UK, and the EU) and countries like China, prioritizing sovereignty and national security in their AI frameworks.

The need for alignment on AI safety definitions and standards poses challenges for global cooperation. Even so, countries like China have participated in international AI safety summits, indicating that cooperation is possible despite differing approaches. As AI technology evolves, benchmarks and standards for safe and responsible AI must be continuously updated, emphasizing the need for interoperability between governance models.

Wilkinson highlights that state-led global governance efforts are inherently politicized. In contrast, scientist-to-scientist dialogues can depoliticize discussions, improve inclusivity, and advance a shared scientific understanding of AI safety. Historical examples, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), demonstrate the effectiveness of scientist-led initiatives in addressing global issues. A recent example in the AI field is the International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI, developed under the leadership of AI scientist Yoshua Bengio, which brought together scientists from 30 countries.

For future progress, Wilkinson suggests leveraging existing science-policy exchange mechanisms, such as the Global Partnership on AI and the OECD AI Policy Observatory. The UN's Global Digital Compact also aims to establish an International Scientific Panel on AI for multidisciplinary risk assessments. She stresses the crucial role of including diverse scientific expertise and perspectives from under-represented disciplines and states to enhance these efforts. This inclusivity ensures that AI safety governance is globally inclusive and scientifically grounded, making every voice and perspective integral to the process.
 
Thanks for reading. Please follow my blog and write your feedback.