The United Kingdom and United States have refused to sign an international agreement on artificial intelligence (AI) at a global summit in Paris that would introduce an open, inclusive and ethical approach to the technology’s development.
The UK government said on Thursday it did not sign the agreement over concerns regarding national security and ‘global governance.’ Meanwhile, the US Vice President, JD Vance, informed delegates in Paris that overregulation of AI could have detrimental effects on the development of the artificial intelligence industry.
Vance told world leaders the Trump administration would take advantage of AI and emphasized prioritizing “pro-growth AI policies” over safety. His stance contrasts with French President Emmanuel Macron, who defended the need for further regulation.
“We need these rules for AI to move forward,” Macron said at the summit.
The UK previously championed AI safety, with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosting the world’s first AI Safety Summit in 2023. Furthermore, Andrew Dudfield, head of AI at fact-checking organization Full Fact, warned that the government’s decision not to sign the Paris communiqué jeopardized that commitment.
“By refusing to sign today’s international AI Action Statement the UK Government risks undercutting its hard-won credibility as a world leader for safe, ethical and trustworthy AI innovation,” he said.
Sixty countries signed the statement. They committed to reducing digital divides by promoting artificial intelligence accessibility and ensuring development remains transparent, safe, secure, and trustworthy.
“Making AI sustainable for people and the planet,” is listed as a further priority.
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Summit leaders discussed AI energy for the first time
UKAI, the trade body representing businesses working in the AI sector across the country, said the UK government made the right call.
“While UKAI agrees that being environmentally responsible is important, we question how to balance this responsibility with the growing needs of the AI industry for more energy,” said its chief executive Tim Flagg.
“UKAI cautiously welcomes the Government’s refusal to sign this statement as an indication that it will explore the more pragmatic solutions that UKAI has been calling for – retaining opportunities to work closely with our US partners.”
The agreement further acknowledges that summit leaders discussed AI energy use for the first time. This follows expert warnings that it could soon match the consumption of small countries.
Additionally, various celebrities have come out in favour of legislation to protect the public from AI.
The AI video displayed an image of Scarlet Johansson wearing a T-shirt featuring a hand with an extended middle finger, a Jewish star, and Kanye West’s name. Though fake, the video suggested she and others were reacting to West’s latest antisemitic remarks.
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Artificial intelligence scams are becoming a global issue
This isn’t the first time AI has been used in this capacity, either.
During Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a deepfake video surfaced showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appearing to surrender. The video, though poorly rendered, was shared on social media in an attempt to undermine Ukrainian resistance and spread disinformation.
Similarly, in 2023, scammers used AI to clone Taylor Swift’s voice and generate fake recordings promoting fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. These voice deepfakes attempted to deceive fans into investing, exploiting Swift’s influence to add credibility to the scam.
AI-powered voice scams, also known as “voice cloning fraud” have also become prevalent.
In 2023, scammers used AI to mimic the voices of loved ones in distressing phone calls. The intention was to trick victims into believing a family member had been kidnapped or was in need of money. Criminals used AI to generate highly convincing speech patterns. This would make it difficult for victims to distinguish between real and fake voices.
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joseph@mugglehead.com
