US, Britain, and EU Set to Sign AI Treaty
The first legally binding international AI treaty, known as the AI Convention, is set to be open for signing on Thursday. The treaty is the result of extensive negotiations among 57 countries, including the United States, Britain, and European Union members.
This marks a significant step toward regulating AI on a global scale.
Addressing AI’s Impact on Human Rights
Adopted in May, the AI Convention is primarily focused on safeguarding the human rights of individuals affected by AI systems. The treaty establishes a framework for member states to ensure that AI technologies do not undermine fundamental values such as human rights and the rule of law.
Britain’s justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, emphasized the importance of this agreement, stating, “This Convention is a major step to ensuring that these new technologies can be harnessed without eroding our oldest values, like human rights and the rule of law.”
The Convention is separate from the EU’s AI Act, which recently came into force and provides comprehensive regulations on developing, deploying, and using AI systems within the EU internal market. While the EU AI Act focuses on internal governance, the AI Convention represents a broader international commitment to ethical AI use.
Foundations and Challenges of the AI Convention
The Council of Europe, established in 1949 laid the groundwork for this treaty by creating a dedicated Committee on Artificial Intelligence in 2022. This committee, alongside an ad hoc group formed in 2019, examined the feasibility of an international AI framework.
The AI Convention allows signatory countries the flexibility to adopt or maintain legislative, administrative, or other measures to implement its provisions. However, some experts have raised concerns about the treaty’s effectiveness.
Francesca Fanucci, a legal expert at the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) who contributed to the treaty’s drafting, expressed reservations about the treaty’s broad and sometimes vague language. “The formulation of principles and obligations in this convention is so overbroad and fraught with caveats that it raises serious questions about their legal certainty and effective enforceability,“.
Fanucci also pointed out potential flaws in the treaty, such as exemptions for AI systems used for national security and limited scrutiny of private companies compared to the public sector. “This double standard is disappointing,” she added.
Implementation and Future Outlook
The UK government has indicated its commitment to working with regulators, devolved administrations, and local authorities to implement the treaty’s requirements. As AI continues to evolve rapidly, this international agreement aims to provide a cohesive approach to managing its impact across borders.
While the AI Convention represents a milestone in international AI regulation, its success will depend on the commitment of signatories. As global reliance on AI technologies grows, so too does the need for robust, enforceable frameworks.
The signing of the AI Convention marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to navigate the complex landscape of artificial intelligence.
Originally posted on OpenDataScience.com
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