Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT are complicating governments’ efforts to agree laws governing the use of the technology.
Here are the latest steps national and international governing bodies are taking to regulate AI tools:
AUSTRALIA
Seeking input on regulations
The government is consulting Australia’s main science advisory body and considering next steps, a spokesperson for the industry and science minister said in April.
BRITAIN
Planning regulations
The Financial Conduct Authority, one of several state regulators that has been tasked with drawing up new guidelines covering AI, is consulting with the Alan Turing Institute and other legal and academic institutions to improve its understanding of the technology, a spokesperson told Reuters.
Britain’s competition regulator said in May it would start examining the impact of AI on consumers, businesses and the economy and whether new controls were needed.
The Financial Conduct Authority, one of several state regulators that has been tasked with drawing up new guidelines covering AI, is consulting with the Alan Turing Institute and other legal and academic institutions to improve its understanding of the technology, a spokesperson told Reuters.
Britain’s competition regulator said in May it would start examining the impact of AI on consumers, businesses and the economy and whether new controls were needed.
Britain said in March it planned to split responsibility for governing AI between its regulators for human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than creating a new body.
CHINA
Planning regulations
The Chinese government will seek to initiate AI regulations in the country, billionaire Elon Musk said on the 5th of June after meeting with officials during a trip to Chine.
China’s cyberspace regulator in April unveiled draft measures to manage generative AI services, saying it wanted firms to submit security assessments to authorities before they launch offerings to the public.
Beijing will support leading enterprises in building AI models that can challenge ChatGBT, its economy and information technology bureau said in February.
EUROPEAN UNION
Planning regulations
EU lawmakers agreed on June 14th to changes in a draft of the bloc’s AI act. The lawmakers will now have to thrash out details with EU countries before the draft rules become legislation.
The biggest issue is expected to be facial recognition ad biometric surveillance where some more lawmakers want a total ban while EU countries want an exception for national security, defence and military purposes.
EU tech chief Margrethe Vestager said on May 31st that the U.S and EU should push the AI industry to adopt a voluntary code of conduct within months to provide safeguards while new laws developed.
FRANCE
Investigation possible breaches
France’s privacy watchdog CNIL said in April it was investigation several complaints about ChatGPT after the chatbox was temporarily banned in Italy over a suspected breach of privacy rules.
France’s National Assembly approved in March the use of AI video surveillance during 2024 Paris Olympics, overlooking warnings from civil rights groups.
G7
Seeking input on regulation
Group of seven leaders meeting I Hiroshima, Japan, acknowledges in May that need for governance of AI and immersive technologies and agreed to have ministers discuss the technology as the ”Hiroshima AI process” and report results by the end of 2023.
G7 nations should adopt risk based regulation on AI, G7 digital ministers said after a meeting in April.
IRELAND
Seeking input on regulations
Generative AI needs to be regulated, but governing bodies must work out how to do so properly before rushing into prohibitions that really aren’t going to stand up, Irelands data protection chief said in April.
ISRAEL
Seeking input on regulations
Israel has been working on AI regulations for the last 18 months or so to achieve the right balance between innovation and the preservation of human rights and civic safeguards, Ziv Katzir, director of national AI planning at the Israel Innovation Authority, said in June.
Israel published a 115 page draft AI policy in October and is collating public feedback ahead of a final decision.
ITALY
Investigation possible breaches
Italy’s data protection authority plans to review other artificial intelligence platforms and hire AI experts, a top official said in May.
ChatGPT became available again to users in Italy in April after being temporarily banned over concerns by the national data protection authority in March
JAPAN
Investigation possible breaches
Japan expects to introduce by the end of 2023 regulations that are likely closer to the U.S attitude than the stringent ones planned in the EU, an official close to deliberations said in July, as it looks to the technology to boost economics growth and make it a leader in advanced chips.
The country’s privacy watchdog said on June 2nd it has waned OpenAI not to collect sensitive data without peoples permission and to minimise the sensitive data it collects.
SPAIN
Investigating possible breaches
Spain’s data protection agency said in April it was launching a preliminary investigation into potential data breaches by ChatGPT. It has also asked the EU’s privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT.
UNITED NATIONS
Planning regulations
U.N Secretary General Antonio Guterres on June 12th backed a proposal by some AI executives for the creation of an AI watchdog like the International Atomic Energy Agency, but noted that only member states can create it, not the Secretariat of the United Nations.
Guterres has also announced plans to start work by the end of the year on a high level AI advisory body to regularly review AI governance arrangements and offer recommendations.
U.S
seeking input on regulations
Generative AI raises competition concerns and is a focus of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Technology along with its Office of Technology, the agency said in a blog post by the staff of the two offices in June.
Senator Michael Bennet wrote to leading tech firms on June 29th to urge them to label AI generated content and limit the spread of material aimed at misleading users. He had introduced a bill in April to create a task force to look at U.S policies on AI.
The national Institute of Standards and Technology, a non-regulatory agency that is part of the commerce Department, will launch a public working group of expert volunteers and generative AI to help address its opportunities and develop guidance to confront its risks, it said on June 22nd.
President Joe Biden said on June 20th he would seek expert advice on the risks of AI to national security and the economy.
The U.S Federal Trade Commission’s chief said in May the agency was committed to using existing laws to keep in check some of the dangers of AI, such as enhancing the power of dominant firms and turbocharging fraud.
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