Korea calls for AI reliability at global summit

Korea called for global efforts to raise AI ethics standards during the AI Safety Summit in the U.K. AI technology has emerged as a dynamic force that will drive transformative changes in our lives, and its safety and reliability must be ensured, the ICT minister said, Wednesday.

“Within the scope that does not hinder the development of AI technology, we must secure adequate reliability and safety for AI,” ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho said on the first day of the inaugural summit. The Ministry of Science and ICT said the minister attended the meeting, which was held at Bletchley Park, in the U.K. for two days on Nov. 1 and 2.

The two-day AI Safety Summit was held for the first time to explore cooperation between AI-leading countries, businesses and organizations for the safe use of AI. The first day of the ministerial meeting saw the participation of 28 ministers responsible for AI policy. The meeting also featured global Big Tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Amazon, as well as major Korean companies including Samsung Electronics and Naver.

On the first day, the participating countries and companies continued the discussion, noting that AI's development creates new opportunities while also expanding potential risks.

Lee delivered a keynote speech on what policymakers need to do to minimize risks in a session dealing with what developers, policymakers and the global community can do to minimize the potential risks of AI.

The ICT minister introduced Korea’s Digital Bill of Rights, which was announced in September, a charter that presents national standards and principles for the digital era and outlines the basic direction of universal digital order norms.

He then called for the establishment of an international AI organization under the United Nations, saying that such discussions should be held internationally.

The minister also gave a closing speech about a mini-virtual summit, scheduled to be held in six months to review the progress of follow-up measures from the inaugural summit. Korea will act as a co-host country with the U.K. The next AI Safety Summit will be held in 2024.

“We are pleased to co-host the mini-summit with the U.K.,” Lee said. “Korea will do our part to contribute responsibly to the advancement of discussions on the establishment of a global order for the safe use of AI.”

The participating countries announced in a joint declaration that cooperation in AI across borders is needed to address AI risks, and that each government should consider an innovation-friendly regulatory approach.

In addition, they agreed that all entities developing advanced AI have a responsibility to ensure safety. They recognized that relevant policies between countries may differ depending on their respective situations but agreed to cooperate appropriately, such as increasing transparency.