The UK Government has selected the iconic Bletchley Park as the venue for an upcoming international summit that will explore and build consensus on rapid, international action to advance safety at the frontier of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Scheduled for 1 and 2 November 2023, the event brings together global governments, leading AI companies, as well as research experts to discuss the nuanced landscape of AI technology.
The summit aims to address the risks associated with the forefront of AI development, exploring how coordinated international efforts can mitigate these challenges. These cutting-edge AI models hold substantial potential for economic growth, scientific advancements, and societal benefits, but their rapid evolution also raises concerns about responsible deployment.
Situated in Buckinghamshire, Bletchley Park’s historical significance as the home of British Enigma codebreaking during World War Two adds depth to the discussions that will unfold. The goal is to also collaboratively devise a set of actionable measures to enhance the safety of AI’s global usage.
Readiness for the event
As part of the summit’s preparations, the Prime Minister recently appointed two representatives. Matt Clifford, CEO of Entrepreneur First and chair of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, alongside Jonathan Black, Heywood Fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford and former UK G7 and G20 Sherpa and Deputy National Security Adviser.
Their role is to spearhead dialogues and negotiations, rallying AI nations and experts to ensure that the summit results in tangible steps towards a shared approach for managing AI safety risks.
The summit builds upon existing international efforts, including initiatives at the OECD, Global Partnership on AI, Council of Europe, UN, and standards-development organisations. With AI’s pervasive impact across diverse sectors, the discussions at Bletchley Park will lay the foundation for a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for safe AI deployment.
“No country will be untouched by AI, and no country alone will solve the challenges posed by this technology. In our interconnected world, we must have an international approach,” said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, describing Bletchley Park as the birthplace of modern AI origins.
“Now, it will also be home to the global effort to shape the responsible use of AI.”
Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, also commented: “We’re already a leading nation when it comes to artificial intelligence – and this summit will help cement our position as the home of safe innovation.”
Earlier this year, the UK also launched an expert taskforce to help build and adopt the next generation of safe AI, backed by an initial £100 million of funding, alongside a commitment to spend £900million developing compute capacity, including an exascale supercomputer in the UK.
