AI pioneers turn whistleblowers and demand safeguards

OpenAI is facing a wave of internal strife and external criticism over its practices and the potential risks posed by its technology. 

In May, several high-profile employees departed from the company, including Jan Leike, the former head of OpenAI's "super alignment" efforts to ensure advanced AI systems remain aligned with human values. Leike's exit came shortly after OpenAI unveiled its new flagship GPT-4o model, which it touted as "magical" at its Spring Update...

6 June 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

EU launches office to implement AI Act and foster innovation

EU AI legislation sparks controversy over data transparency

The European Union has launched a new office dedicated to overseeing the implementation of its landmark AI Act, which is regarded as one of the most comprehensive AI regulations in the world. This new initiative adopts a risk-based approach, imposing stringent regulations on higher-risk AI applications to ensure their safe and ethical deployment.

The primary goal of this office is to promote the "future development, deployment and use" of AI technologies, aiming to harness their...

30 May 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI faces complaint over fictional outputs

European data protection advocacy group noyb has filed a complaint against OpenAI over the company's inability to correct inaccurate information generated by ChatGPT. The group alleges that OpenAI's failure to ensure the accuracy of personal data processed by the service violates the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.

"Making up false information is quite problematic in itself. But when it comes to false information about individuals, there can be...

29 April 2024 | Applications

Igor Jablokov, Pryon: Building a responsible AI future

As artificial intelligence continues to rapidly advance, ethical concerns around the development and deployment of these world-changing innovations are coming into sharper focus.

In an interview ahead of the AI & Big Data Expo North America, Igor Jablokov, CEO and founder of AI company Pryon, addressed these pressing issues head-on.

Critical ethical challenges in AI

"There's not one, maybe there's almost 20 plus of them," Jablokov stated when asked about the...

25 April 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

UK and South Korea to co-host AI Seoul Summit

The UK and South Korea are set to co-host the AI Seoul Summit on the 21st and 22nd of May. This summit aims to pave the way for the safe development of AI technologies, drawing on the cooperative framework laid down by the Bletchley Declaration.

The two-day event will feature a virtual leaders' session, co-chaired by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and a subsequent in-person meeting among Digital Ministers. UK Technology Secretary...

12 April 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

US and Japan announce sweeping AI and tech collaboration

The US and Japan have unveiled a raft of new AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and other critical technology initiatives.

The ambitious plans were announced this week by President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio following Kishida's Official Visit to the White House.

While the leaders affirmed their commitment across a broad range of areas including defence, climate, development, and humanitarian efforts, the new technology collaborations took centre...

11 April 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

UK and US sign pact to develop AI safety tests

The UK and US have signed a landmark agreement to collaborate on developing rigorous testing for advanced AI systems, representing a major step forward in ensuring their safe deployments.

The Memorandum of Understanding – signed Monday by UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo – establishes a partnership to align the scientific approaches of both countries in rapidly iterating robust evaluation methods for cutting-edge AI models,...

2 April 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

IPPR: 8M UK careers at risk of ‘job apocalypse’ from AI

A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) sheds light on the potential impact of AI on the UK job market. The study warns of an imminent 'job apocalypse', threatening to engulf over eight million careers across the nation, unless swift government intervention is enacted.

The report identifies two key stages of generative AI adoption. The first wave, which is already underway, exposes 11 percent of tasks performed by UK workers. Routine cognitive tasks like...

27 March 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

UN passes first global AI resolution

The UN General Assembly has adopted a landmark resolution on AI, aiming to promote the safe and ethical development of AI technologies worldwide.

The resolution, co-sponsored by over 120 countries, was adopted unanimously by all 193 UN member states on 21 March. This marks the first time the UN has established global standards and guidelines for AI.

The eight-page resolution calls for the development of "safe, secure, and trustworthy" AI systems that respect human rights...

22 March 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

UAE set to help fund OpenAI’s in-house chips

OpenAI's ambitious plans to develop its own semiconductor chips for powering advanced AI models could receive a boost from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a report by the Financial Times.

The report states that MGX — a state-backed group in Abu Dhabi — is in discussions to support OpenAI's venture to build AI chips in-house. This information comes from two individuals with knowledge of the discussions.

In order to achieve its goal of creating...

15 March 2024 | Artificial Intelligence