World leaders are set to convene virtually at the AI Seoul Summit to address the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and promote innovation in the field. This summit follows the inaugural AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom last November, where countries agreed to collaborate in managing the potential risks posed by rapid advancements in AI.
The two-day meeting, co-hosted by the South Korean and U.K. governments, coincides with major tech companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Google unveiling their latest AI models. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will lead the virtual conference, joined by other world leaders, industry figures, and international organization heads.
The agenda for the summit has expanded to include discussions on AI safety, innovation, and inclusivity. Participants will explore both the risks and positive impacts of AI, aiming to strike a balance in leveraging AI for the benefit of humanity.
The AI agreement resulting from the summit will encompass outcomes related to safety, innovation, and inclusivity. The Group of Seven nations, along with Australia, Singapore, and representatives from various organizations and tech giants, have been invited to participate.
While China will not attend the virtual summit, a representative will be present at the in-person meeting on Wednesday. Yoon and Sunak plan to urge companies to enhance their risk assessment and response mechanisms in light of the evolving AI landscape.
The Seoul meeting is positioned as a precursor to a full-fledged, in-person summit pledged by France. Governments worldwide are racing to establish AI regulations as the technology advances rapidly, potentially reshaping various aspects of society.
Developers of powerful AI systems are collaborating to set shared safety standards, with Meta Platforms and Amazon recently joining the Frontier Model Forum. The U.N. General Assembly and high-level U.S.-China talks have also addressed the need for AI governance and shared standards.