Global moves to regulate artificial intelligence: AI news

The rapid advance of generative AI tools has drawn the attention of regulators around the world. Political bodies and policy-makers are accelerating efforts to put laws in place controlling the potential risks of AI and making developers accountable for the actions of their systems.

A group of EU lawmakers working on AI legislation is calling for a global summit to find ways to control the development of advanced AI systems, according to reports from Reuters. The 12 European Parliament members have urged US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to convene a meeting of world leaders.

Research shows that efforts to regulate AI appear to be gathering pace. Stanford University’s 2023 AI Index shows 37 AI-related bills were passed into law globally in 2022. The US led the push for regulation, passing nine laws, followed by Spain with five and the Philippines with four.

The European Commission proposed draft rules for an AI Act nearly two years ago. It is expected to classify AI tools according to their perceived level of risk, from low to unacceptable. There are also reports that the European Data Protection Board has set up a task force on ChatGPT, in a first step towards possible regulation on privacy around AI.

The US is also acting on potential accountability measures for AI systems as questions loom about the impact on national security and education. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration wants to know if there are measures that could be put in place to provide assurance “that AI systems are legal, effective, ethical, safe, and otherwise trustworthy”, Reuters reports.

OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, says it is collaborating with policy-makers “to ensure that AI systems are developed in a trustworthy manner”.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University have been looking into the productivity of workers using generative AI to help them with their work. The study, which assessed the performance of more than 5,000 customer support agents, showed workers were on average 14% more productive when using generative AI tools.

Pairing workers with an AI assistant proved much more effective with novice and low-skilled employees, according to the research. The technology’s impact on highly skilled staff was minimal.

A broader study by the Pew Research Center found that 62% of Americans believe AI will have a major impact on jobs over the next 20 years. Their biggest concern is the use of AI in hiring and firing processes, which 77% of respondents are opposed to.

Integrating generative AI into the workforce of the future will be a key topic at the World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 2-3 May 2023. Sessions on reskilling workforces and how to align education systems with industry demand for AI talent will form a central part of the discussions.

A news agency in Kuwait has introduced online viewers to an AI newsreader who may become the face of its news bulletins. The Guardian reports that the virtual presenter’s first words, spoken in Arabic, were: “I’m Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Let’s hear your opinions.” Kuwait News published the presenter’s first appearance on Twitter. But the use of AI in the news media is likely to prove controversial as there are well-documented cases of AI delivering inaccurate information. There are also concerns about AI being used to spread disinformation.

The health sector is one area where AI is already being used to improve patient care and outcomes, as we have reported previously. Now an Israeli health-tech company is using AI to match patients with the most effective drugs to treat depression, according to a report from the BBC. The process, which combines stem cell technology with AI, helps to cut the risk of side effects and make sure the treatment is as effective as possible.

The US Homeland Security Agency will create a task force to develop its approach to using artificial intelligence, according to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. AI could be used in roles from protecting critical infrastructure to screening cargo. Mayorkas said the technology would “drastically alter the threat landscape,” adding: “Our department will lead in the responsible use of AI to secure the homeland and in defending against the malicious use of this transformational technology.”

The University of California, Berkeley School of Law is among the first educational institutions to adopt a formal policy on student use of generative AI. The policy limits students to using AI to conduct research or correct grammar, and says it may not be used in exams or to compose assignments. The rules also forbid the use of AI in any way that constitutes plagiarism. “The approach of finals made us realize that we had to say something,” said Professor Chris Hoofnagle. “We want to make sure we have clear guidelines so that students don’t inadvertently attract an honour code violation.”

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