South Korea is set to host the second global AI safety summit on May 21-22, following Britain's inaugural event at Bletchley Park six months prior. Government officials announced in a statement released on Friday that the summit aims to advance the objectives outlined in the "Bletchley Declaration," a collaborative agreement among nations, including the U.S. and China, to address AI safety concerns.
The release of ChatGPT by Microsoft-backed OpenAI in late 2022 garnered both admiration and apprehension. Renowned AI expert Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the "godfather of AI," expressed concerns, suggesting that the technology posed a more immediate threat to global security than climate change. Elon Musk called for an immediate halt in the development of such AI systems.
In November of the previous year, Britain convened the inaugural AI Safety Summit, bringing together global leaders, industry titans, and scholars to deliberate on effective regulatory frameworks for rapidly advancing AI technology. Following the two-day event, over 25 government representatives signed a joint declaration committing to collaborative efforts and establishing a unified approach to oversight.
Recognizing the need to stay abreast of technological advancements, it was agreed that subsequent summits would occur every six months. South Korea will predominantly host a virtual summit in May, with France slated to host the subsequent in-person summit later in 2024.