Alan Brown
This article synthesises two significant strands of development in artificial intelligence (AI) – the strategic preparations for the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit and the creation of the AI Standards Hub (Alan Turing Institute). Detailing the UK’s proactive approach towards establishing a global dialogue on AI risks and the vital role of standards as tools for responsible innovation.
The landscape of AI is witnessing transformative shifts, particularly within the spheres of national security and safety. A notable event marking this transition is the AI Safety Summit set to convene at Bletchley Park. The summit is an embodiment of the UK’s dedication to pioneering international collaboration on the safety of frontier AI, a term increasingly used to describe the latest advancements at the edge of AI technology with potential existential implications.
The Frontier AI Task Force, established in the summer of 2023 and supported by a funding of £100 million, is coordinating the preparations for the summit. Under the guidance of Ian Hogarth.
Their focus areas are:
— Developing sophisticated safety evaluation capability for the UK.
— Strengthening UK capability.
— Delivering public sector use cases.
The summit aims to achieve consensus on five strategic objectives:
- A shared understanding of the risks posed by frontier AI and the need for action.
- A forward process for international collaboration on frontier AI safety, including how best to support national and international frameworks.
- Appropriate measures that individual organisations should take to increase frontier AI safety.
- Areas for potential collaboration on AI safety research, including evaluating model capabilities and the development of new standards to support governance.
- Showcase how ensuring the safe development of AI will enable AI to be used for good globally.
In parallel to these efforts, there is a burgeoning movement towards the standardisation of AI, led by the AI Standards Hub. This collaborative initiative brings together the expertise of the Alan Turing Institute, British Standards Institution (BSI), National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The hub’s mission is to champion trustworthy and responsible AI, with a particular emphasis on how standards can act as both governance mechanisms and catalysts for innovation.
The AI Standards Hub is structured around four foundational pillars that outline its role as the central point for AI standards within governmental domains and beyond. These pillars focus on advancing the development of AI standards, promoting their adoption, facilitating international collaboration, and encouraging education and awareness.
In its pursuit of leading the ethical development of AI technologies, the UK is witnessing significant developments through separate initiatives like the AI Safety Summit and the AI Standards Hub. Each initiative represents a crucial aspect of the UK’s comprehensive approach to AI governance, highlighting the importance of informed and strategic planning in this field.
