UK wants to put AI safety on the G20 agenda

As chair of the G20, the UK will work for common international standards for artificial intelligence (AI). That is according to the country's prime minister, Andy Burnham, in a speech to the UN General Assembly, according to the news agency Reuters.

The G20 is a forum of 19 countries, the EU and the African Union, which meet to discuss major economic and global issues. Next year, the UK holds the presidency.

Burnham points out that concern about the safety of artificial intelligence has grown recently.

"We have all heard the warnings, and we must take them seriously. I know how worried people are. That is why we have to live up to the responsibility the situation demands," says Burnham.

"I can announce today that I will put artificial intelligence at the center of the UK's G20 presidency next year," says Burnham, according to the news agency AFP.

"We will work toward agreeing on a common set of global principles and standards to ensure the transparency and access we need, so that we can strengthen our preparedness and ensure that the development of artificial intelligence takes place safely," he says. By transparency, he means that it should be clear to the outside world how AI systems are developed and used.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is due to address the UN Security Council on Wednesday during the UN General Assembly. According to an OpenAI spokesperson, Altman will emphasize in his speech the company's initiatives to "ensure that AI is safe and benefits people all over the world."

Last week at a technology conference, Altman called the speed at which artificial intelligence is developing frightening.