The governments of the United Kingdom and the United States have jointly announced their collaboration on testing the most powerful artificial intelligence algorithms for healthcare. The agreement, signed by Michelle Donelan, the U.K. Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, outlines a cooperative schedule between the two nations.
Donelan expressed her perspective on the agreement during an interview with TIME at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., stating that she sees it as a significant step forward in advancing AI safety in close partnership with the U.S. government. She emphasized that the United States and the United Kingdom are leading the way towards establishing a network of institutes dedicated to this cause.
The establishment of the U.K. and U.S. AI Safety Institutes followed the inaugural AI Safety Summit in Bletchley Park in November 2023. While the initial collaboration was announced during their inception, the new agreement formalizes and strengthens their partnership, providing a framework for enhanced cooperation. This agreement also paves the way for the United States to align its efforts with the already operational U.K. institute.
The collaboration aims to develop a cohesive strategy for AI safety testing, leveraging shared methodologies and resources. The institutes will engage in employee and information exchange in compliance with relevant laws and agreements. Additionally, they plan to conduct joint testing of an AI model accessible to the public.
Secretary Raimondo highlighted the global significance of ensuring the safe advancement of AI, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in addressing AI safety and security challenges. The joint efforts between the U.K. and the U.S. are crucial for sharing insights on AI capabilities and risks, as well as advancing technical research in AI safety.
In response to the rapid evolution of AI technologies, safety tests such as those conducted by the U.K. and U.S. AI Safety Institutes are expected to play a pivotal role. Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have outlined their plans to integrate safety tests into their product development processes. Regulatory initiatives in the EU and the U.S. mandate transparency in disclosing the results of AI safety tests for businesses developing advanced AI models.
While the U.K. government, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s leadership, has taken proactive steps in organizing the AI Safety Summit and funding the U.K. AI Safety Institute, the U.S. has allocated $10 million to its counterpart. Donelan defended the U.S. government’s commitment, emphasizing that the investment reflects broader resources allocated to AI initiatives across various government agencies.
Both nations are exploring partnerships with other countries to address the global implications of AI development. Donelan stressed the importance of international collaboration in harnessing AI for the benefit of humanity, underscoring the need for information exchange and expertise sharing on a global scale.
