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

EU approves controversial AI Act to mixed reactions

The European Parliament today approved the AI Act, the first ever regulatory framework governing the use of AI systems. The legislation passed with an overwhelming majority of 523 votes in favour, 46 against and 49 abstentions.

"This is a historic day," said Italian lawmaker Brando Benifei, co-lead on the AI Act. "We have the first regulation in the world which puts a clear path for safe and human-centric development of AI."

The AI Act will categorise AI systems into...

13 March 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

AIs in India will need government permission before launching

In an advisory issued by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) last Friday, it was declared that any AI technology still in development must acquire explicit government permission before being released to the public.

Developers will also only be able to deploy these technologies after labelling the potential fallibility or unreliability of the output generated.

Furthermore, the document outlines plans for implementing a "consent popup"...

4 March 2024 | Applications

AUKUS trial advances AI for military operations 

The UK armed forces and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) recently collaborated with the militaries of Australia and the US as part of the AUKUS partnership in a landmark trial focused on AI and autonomous systems. 

The trial, called Trusted Operation of Robotic Vehicles in Contested Environments (TORVICE), was held in Australia under the AUKUS partnership formed last year between the three countries. It aimed to test robotic vehicles and sensors in situations...

5 February 2024 | Applications

AI-generated Biden robocall urges Democrats not to vote

An AI-generated robocall impersonating President Joe Biden has urged Democratic Party members not to vote in the upcoming primary on Tuesday.

Kathy Sullivan – a prominent New Hampshire Democrat and former state party chair – is calling for the prosecution of those responsible, describing the incident as "an attack on democracy."

The call began with a dismissive "What a bunch of malarkey," a phrase that’s become associated with the 81-year-old president. It then...

23 January 2024 | Applications

OpenAI suspends developer of politician-impersonating chatbot

OpenAI has suspended the developer responsible for Dean.Bot, a ChatGPT-powered chatbot designed to impersonate Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips.

The bot, created by “cloning” startup Delphi, aimed to support Phillips in his political campaign. However, this move directly contradicts OpenAI's policies, leading to the suspension of the responsible developer.

The Washington Post reported that, despite displaying a disclaimer describing the nature of the...

22 January 2024 | Applications

NIST announces AI consortium to shape US policies

In a bid to address the challenges associated with the development and deployment of AI, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has formed a new consortium. 

This development was announced in a document published to the Federal Registry on November 2, alongside an official notice inviting applications from individuals with the relevant credentials.

The document states, "This notice is the initial step for NIST in collaborating with non-profit...

3 November 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Biden issues executive order to ensure responsible AI development

President Biden has issued an executive order aimed at positioning the US at the forefront of AI while ensuring the technology's safe and responsible use.

The order establishes stringent standards for AI safety and security, safeguards Americans' privacy, promotes equity and civil rights, protects consumers and workers, fosters innovation and competition, and enhances American leadership on the global stage.

Key actions outlined in the order:

New standards for AI...

30 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Is Europe killing itself financially with the AI Act?

Europe is tinkering with legislation to regulate artificial intelligence. European regulators are delighted with this, but what does the world say about the AI Act?

Now the outlines for the AI Act are known, a debate is beginning to erupt around its possible implications. One camp believes regulations are needed to curb the risks of powerful AI technology, while the other is convinced that regulation will prove pernicious for the European economy. Is it out of the...

18 September 2023 | Legislation & Government

ChatGPT’s political bias highlighted in study

A study conducted by computer and information science researchers from the UK and Brazil has raised concerns about the objectivity of ChatGPT.

The researchers claim to have discovered substantial political bias in ChatGPT's responses, leaning towards the left side of the political spectrum.

Published in the journal Public Choice this week, the study – conducted by Fabio Motoki, Valdemar Pinho, and Victor Rodrigues – argues that the presence of political bias in...

18 August 2023 | Applications