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Artificial intelligence challenges the multilateral system, according to a warning from the UK government. The government aims to rally countries, including China, around its vision for regulation to mitigate the “societal-scale” risks associated with this technology.
During the UN General Assembly in New York, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden and foreign secretary James Cleverly defended the decision to invite China to an AI regulation summit initially limited to “like-minded countries.”
Dowden acknowledged the need for meaningful multilateralism that includes China, stating, “I don’t think we can have meaningful multilateralism without engaging with China.”
In a speech to the UN, Dowden emphasized the changing nature of international relations in the face of AI’s potential and risks. He called for a new form of multilateralism to address the influence wielded by technology companies and non-state actors.
Dowden expressed awareness of the national security implications of involving China but highlighted positive conversations held regarding China’s participation in the summit. He acknowledged the differences between the UK and countries with less democratic models but emphasized the importance of engagement.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has faced criticism from within his Conservative party for engaging with China, particularly after the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for Beijing.
Cleverly defended the principle of engagement, recognizing that China’s activity in AI, both positive and negative, demands a global response led by the UK.
Dowden urged governments to avoid repeating past mistakes in regulating social media sites too slowly, emphasizing the need for proactive regulation in the AI space.
The UK is confident in its “Frontier AI” task force, which received £100mn in government funding in June. The government envisions it evolving into a permanent international institution.
With Sunak absent from New York, Dowden and Cleverly represented the UK at the UN General Assembly and the parallel Climate Week events.
Dowden addressed criticisms of Sunak’s relaxation of the UK’s climate change targets, emphasizing the UK’s commitment to net zero by 2050 and the need to balance measures with their impacts on citizens.
“If you really believe in tackling climate change, you have to bring your own citizens with you,” Dowden said. “And the way you bring people with you is to have a pragmatic, not a dogmatic, approach to this.”
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