On September 13th, there was some interesting news about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it’s making it difficult for governments to establish clear regulations. This is happening because AI technology, like Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is advancing at such a rapid pace. Let’s take a look at what different countries and international governing bodies are doing to address this issue.
In Australia, they’re taking some serious steps to prevent the sharing of child sexual abuse material created by AI and the production of deepfakes. Their internet regulator announced that they will be requiring search engines to draft new codes to tackle these problems.
Over in Britain, the Financial Conduct Authority, along with other legal and academic institutions, is working to improve their understanding of AI by consulting with experts from the Alan Turing Institute. They are also examining the impact of AI on consumers, businesses, and the economy to see if new regulations are necessary.
China has implemented temporary regulations that require service providers to go through security assessments and receive clearance before releasing mass-market AI products. This is an important step in ensuring the safety and reliability of AI products in the Chinese market.
In the European Union, there are ongoing efforts to regulate AI. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the establishment of a global panel to assess the risks and benefits of AI, similar to the global IPCC panel that informs climate policy. EU lawmakers have also made changes to a draft of the EU’s AI Act and are now working with EU countries to finalize the details.
France is currently investigating possible breaches of privacy rules by ChatGPT. The use of AI video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Olympics was approved by France’s National Assembly, despite concerns from civil rights groups.
The Group of Seven (G7) leaders have recognized the need for governance of AI and immersive technologies. They have agreed to have ministers discuss the technology and its implications, and report their findings by the end of 2023. The G7 digital ministers have also called for “risk-based” regulation on AI.
Ireland’s data protection chief has emphasized the need to regulate generative AI properly, rather than rushing into prohibitions that may not be effective. It’s important to strike the right balance between innovation and the protection of human rights.
Israel is also seeking input on AI regulations to ensure the right balance between innovation and human rights. They have published a draft AI policy and are collecting public feedback before making a final decision.
Italy’s data protection authority plans to review AI platforms and hire AI experts to address concerns about privacy breaches. They have already investigated and temporarily banned ChatGPT earlier this year.
Japan expects to introduce AI regulations by the end of 2023, which are likely to align more closely with the approach in the United States rather than the stringent regulations planned in the EU. The country’s privacy watchdog has warned OpenAI about collecting sensitive data without permission.
Spain’s data protection agency has launched a preliminary investigation into potential data breaches by ChatGPT. They have also requested the EU’s privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns related to the AI platform.
The United Nations Security Council had its first formal discussion on AI in July, addressing both military and non-military applications. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has supported the idea of creating an AI watchdog, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, to ensure responsible AI governance.
In the United States, Congress held hearings on AI, and President Joe Biden’s voluntary commitments governing AI were signed by several major companies, including Adobe, IBM, and Nvidia. These commitments include steps like watermarking AI-generated content. However, the FTC has also launched an investigation into OpenAI regarding possible consumer protection law violations.
It’s clear that governments and international governing bodies are aware of the challenges posed by AI and are taking steps to address them. It will be interesting to see how these regulations develop in the coming years as AI continues to advance.
