x NeonPulse | Future Blueprint
Posts
🤖 UK wants to be “the world’s AI referee”

🤖 UK wants to be “the world’s AI referee”

NP #012

Neon Pulse Team
June 24, 2023

Good morning and welcome to the latest edition of neonpulse!

Today, we’re talking about the UK, because Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants it to be “the world’s AI referee”…

UK wants to be “the world’s AI referee”

The “AI regulation talk” is real. The need for regulation is pressing, according to the experts. But who’s going to take the lead?

During Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent visit to Washington, he revealed that the UK will host an upcoming global summit on regulating artificial intelligence. This event will bring together experts from around the world to tackle the important topic of AI regulation.

The need for this is abundantly clear. In March, thousands of AI experts signed a letter for a six-month pause in development, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he himself is even “a little bit scared of AI”, and Elon Musk predicts there will be “a catastrophic outcome” if we don’t regulate AI in time.

It seems that the UK is focusing on becoming “the world’s AI referee”. Some skeptics argue that being a "midsize country" puts the UK at a disadvantage, raising questions about its ability to handle such a significant role. Rishi Sunak, however, didn't take kindly to these doubts, responding with a touch of defensiveness.

Some even view this move as a post-Brexit attempt to regain global significance.

Critics can't help but cringe at Sunak's declaration that Britain should "lead the way", as Parmy Olson wrote in Bloomberg. After all, Brexit hasn't exactly instilled confidence in British policymaking. However, Brexit might be a factor that actually works in the UK's favor when it comes to filling the watchdog role in AI regulation.

With the freedom to break free from EU frameworks and obligations, Britain has the opportunity to swiftly establish its own rules. In contrast, the EU's AI Act won't come into force for another two years, and aggressive lobbying from Silicon Valley makes it unlikely for the US to establish an independent AI regulator anytime soon.

The UK possesses other advantages in this arena. It has a history of agile tech governance and boasts a robust commercial law sector. Furthermore, London is home to Google DeepMind, one of the world's largest AI companies whose technologists regularly advise the government.

The UK offers a moderate middle ground between Europe's burdensome approach and the more laissez-faire attitude of the US.

According to Brent Hoberman in The Times, this is a pivotal moment for the UK tech scene, finally witnessing genuine leadership from the government. However, The Economist urges caution. While applauding Sunak's enthusiasm and his championing of AI, they warn that his ambitions to establish the UK as a global hub may fall short.

There are undeniably numerous hurdles that must be overcome before the UK can become an AI "superpower". Nonetheless, the ambition once again shows that the need for AI regulation is real, and that everyone is starting to be aware of this.