Rishi Sunak defends decision to invite China to Britain's AI summit amid spying fears

Tory hawks concerned about Chinese involvement

Rishi Sunak, the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, has defended his decision to invite China to Britain's first-ever AI Safety Summit, despite concerns over potential spying. Some members of the Conservative Party had urged the Prime Minister to exclude China from the event, fearing that the country would use the summit as an opportunity to gather intelligence. However, Sunak argued that it is safer for the UK to engage with China on such a high-stakes issue rather than disengage.

The importance of global collaboration

In a speech delivered at the Royal Society, Sunak emphasized the need for global collaboration on AI regulation. He stated that no serious AI strategy can exist without engaging with all of the world's leading AI powers, including China. Sunak acknowledged the concerns about China's authoritarian regime but defended the decision to invite them, saying it was the right thing to do.

The risks of AI

Sunak also highlighted the risks associated with AI in his speech. He warned that if AI is misused, it could facilitate the development of chemical or biological weapons, enable terrorist groups to spread fear and disruption, and allow criminals to exploit it for cyber attacks, disinformation, fraud, and even child sexual abuse. He also raised the possibility of AI systems gaining "super intelligence" and humanity losing control over them.

Proposed global expert panel

To mitigate these risks, Sunak proposed the establishment of a global expert panel, nominated by the countries and organizations attending the summit. This panel would be responsible for publishing a "state of AI science" report. Sunak also emphasized the importance of collaboration with AI companies themselves in addressing these risks.

Warnings from intelligence agencies

Recent reports from intelligence agencies have raised concerns about the potential dangers of AI. They have warned that AI programs have already learned to be "persuasive liars" and could significantly enhance the powers of cyber hackers and terrorists. Scams involving AI-generated images and videos, such as fake kidnappings and "sextortion," are also on the rise. The report stresses the need for new regulations to prevent humans from becoming overly reliant on AI systems that they no longer fully understand.