During his speech before the upcoming global safety summit at Bletchley Park, Rishi Sunak shared his thoughts on regulating technology, along with other politicians and tech leaders who will be in attendance from various countries.
According to Rishi Sunak, the government will not hastily impose regulations on AI. Additionally, the UK government has declared the creation of the world’s inaugural institute for ensuring the safety of artificial intelligence.
The deputy prime minister stated that a potential byelection in Peter Bone’s Wellingborough constituency could be difficult. This comes after MPs voted for a six-week suspension due to allegations of bullying and sexual misconduct towards a staff member. A recall petition will be conducted, and if 10% of voters in his Northamptonshire constituency sign it, a byelection will take place.
According to Rishi Sunak, byelections are always a challenge for current governments. However, he expressed confidence that his administration could reduce taxes once inflation decreases.
Ministers of the UK government will convene an urgent committee meeting to address efforts in obtaining “pauses” in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas following a tank attack on Gaza. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden stated that he will lead a Cobra meeting on Thursday morning with representatives from the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence, and Cabinet Office.
Dominic Cummings, the chief adviser to Boris Johnson during the pandemic, will provide testimony to the Covid investigation next week. Other high-ranking officials from Number 10 during that time will also be present. The inquiry has confirmed that Cummings will speak on October 31st.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has been accused of potential plagiarism in her latest book on female economists. The Financial Times investigated the book, titled The Women Who Made Modern Economics, and discovered over 20 instances where passages from other sources were used without proper credit, either directly copied or slightly altered without attribution.
Sunak announced that at the upcoming global summit on AI safety at Bletchley Park, the institute will work towards furthering the understanding of AI safety around the world.
During a presentation at the Royal Society, a society of renowned scientists, Sunak stated:
We will thoroughly analyze, assess, and experiment with emerging forms of AI to gain a comprehensive understanding of their capabilities.
He stated that it would examine “all potential dangers, including social harms such as bias and misinformation, as well as the most severe risks.” A preliminary version of the safety organization is currently in place within the UK’s frontier AI taskforce, which is closely examining the safety of advanced AI models and was formed this year.
Nevertheless, Sunak stated that halting the development of robust models was not possible.
When asked about his stance on implementing a moratorium or ban on the advancement of artificial general intelligence, the speaker responded:
I do not believe it is feasible or able to be enforced. The UK has always been a country that values and promotes innovation, which can lead to positive outcomes. This is the appropriate stance to take.
In March, the discussion about the safety of AI reached a significant point when a letter, signed by numerous influential figures in the tech industry such as Elon Musk, urged for a temporary halt in the development of “giant” AIs for a minimum of six months. The letter expressed concerns that AI laboratories are in a frenzied competition to create and utilize increasingly advanced digital intelligences that are beyond comprehension, prediction, or reliable control, even for their creators.
A separate statement signed by tech executives in May, and referenced by Sunak on Thursday, referred to treating the extinction risks from AI development on a par with nuclear weapons and pandemics.
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The UK government and Rishi Sunak have been accused of not revealing messages to the UK Covid investigation.
Aamer Anwar, the main attorney for the Scottish group representing families affected by Covid, stated that the revelations made during the hearing in the UK were extremely distressing.
He said:
The families we represent deserve the truth. The Scottish Covid Bereaved find it inconceivable that the most senior figures in the Scottish government from former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, [deputy first minister] John Swinney, [finance secretary] Kate Forbes to the present first minister, Humza Yousaf, failed to retain their WhatsApp messages over the two-year period of the pandemic.
Next week, Kamala Harris, the vice-president of the US, has announced her participation in a significant summit on AI safety taking place in the UK.
Rishi Sunak has extended an invitation to global leaders and technology executives, including those from China, to convene at Bletchley Park for a discussion on regulatory measures for the industry.
Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the DUP, stated that there are still notable differences between his party and the government during discussions about trading arrangements after Brexit.
He participated in a gathering in Belfast with other leaders from Northern Ireland to meet with a group of American business representatives.
Donaldson said:
We consistently convene as leaders of our party, a practice we have maintained for several months now.
The different groups have been communicating extensively for weeks in hopes of reaching a point where a government can be established.
However, we have not reached that point yet. There are still discrepancies that need to be addressed and problems that need to be resolved in our communication with the government. We are actively working on resolving these issues every week.
I believe we have made advancements, but there are still notable shortcomings in ensuring the effectiveness of the new arrangements that will replace the Northern Ireland protocol. These arrangements should facilitate trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom without any barriers created by the protocol when it comes to transporting goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain or vice versa.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has been accused of allegedly plagiarizing in her latest book on female economists.
After reviewing the book, The Women Who Made Modern Economics, the Financial Times discovered over 20 instances where passages from other sources were used without proper credit. This includes instances of directly copying or slightly altering the content without acknowledgement.
The paper’s referenced instances consist of a Guardian obituary, various Wikipedia articles, and a statement from a fellow frontbencher in the Labour party.
Basic Books, the publisher of the book, acknowledged that there were sentences in the book lacking proper references. Reeves’s office denied any plagiarism but did acknowledge that mistakes were made and stated that they would be rectified.
A representative informed the Financial Times:
We strongly deny the accusation made against us by this newspaper. These were unintentional errors and will be corrected in future editions.
Basic Books pointed out that the book includes a bibliography from more than 200 sources. It told the FT:
If information is gathered from several sources, it is not necessary for the author to cite every single one.
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Rishi Sunak visited the Moorfields eye hospital in central London ahead of his speech on AI.
Dr. Siegfried Wagner and Dr. Xiao Liu demonstrated to him the retinal scan procedure, utilizing cutting-edge technology.
Shadow science secretary Peter Kyle has called on Rishi Sunak to follow through with his promises after his speech discussing the concerns and anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence.
He told Sky News:
The advancements in artificial intelligence are already proving to be incredibly advantageous for Britain. The potential of this new wave of AI is limitless, but it also comes with potential risks.
Prioritizing safety is crucial in order to avoid this technology from becoming unmanageable.
It is important for Rishi Sunak to follow through on his promises and provide a plan for safeguarding the public.
We have yet to see definite plans for how the government will regulate the most advanced AI models.
A government led by the Labour party would establish definitive criteria for ensuring the safety of AI. This would allow for the utilization of this cutting-edge technology to improve our public services and stimulate economic growth.
The UK government officials will convene an urgent committee meeting to address efforts towards achieving “pauses” in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, following a tank incursion into Gaza.
The deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, announced that he will lead a Cobra meeting on Thursday morning with representatives from the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence, and Cabinet Office.
He reported that there has been progress in providing assistance to the deprived civilians in Gaza who are facing shortages of food, water, and medicine. However, discussions among nations are ongoing to ensure aid reaches those who still require it.
According to the speaker, the UK has been advocating for designated breaks in combat that are both time and location specific. These breaks would enable aid organizations to provide essential items like water filters and medical kits. However, Britain has not agreed to a complete cessation of hostilities despite pressure from others.
Dowden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
The reason why we don’t support a wider ceasefire is one just has to understand the position of people in Israel. If it had been the case in the UK that a group of terrorists had entered and indiscriminately sought to murder over 1,000 people, there would be demands that we remove this threat.
The Israeli government has the right to protect its people through self-defense and removing threats, while also following international laws. We have communicated this to the Israeli government and others.
The situation in Gaza has become even more severe. A mission from the Red Cross has reported witnessing chaos and weariness due to Israel’s complete blockade, a crucial shortage of fuel, and constant bombings.
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Dominic Cummings, the top advisor to Boris Johnson during the pandemic, will testify in the Covid inquiry next week alongside other high-ranking officials from Number 10 at that time.
According to PA News, Cummings has been confirmed to make an appearance on October 31st as part of the inquiry.
On October 30th, Martin Reynolds, who previously served as Johnson’s principal private secretary while he was prime minister, will provide testimony. Lee Cain, the former director of communications at Number 10, will also give evidence on the same day.
The prime minister has acknowledged that attempting to connect with China regarding artificial intelligence may not yield favorable results.
During a Q&A session on the UK’s decision to invite Beijing to participate in its AI safety summit, Rishi Sunak stated:
I can’t say with 100% certainty that China will be there.
However, I strongly believe that it was the right decision to invite them.
China is undeniably the second most powerful country in terms of AI after the US. This is evident when considering the significant investments and activity taking place in research.
He added:
This does not guarantee success and agreement on all matters.
It is important to make an effort to communicate with them, as finding a comprehensive solution for AI in the long run will necessitate a global approach. China’s participation in this effort is ultimately their decision.
Rishi Sunak acknowledged that byelections can be challenging for current governments and expressed confidence in his government’s ability to reduce taxes once inflation has been decreased.
In response to a query regarding a possible byelection in Peter Bone’s Wellingborough seat, the leader of the government stated following his speech on artificial intelligence.
I believe that byelections present many challenges for current administrations – I discussed this recently, and we will continue to work towards progress for our nation.
As a Conservative, I firmly believe in reducing taxes and have always been vocal about that stance when it comes to discussing tax policies.
My main focus when I assumed the role of prime minister was to decrease inflation. As I mentioned at the time, the most significant tax relief we can provide for the nation is to reduce inflation by half. Inflation is what causes individuals to have less money, raises the cost of goods, and diminishes savings.
This approach closely aligns with the practices of Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson, and I am convinced it is the appropriate economic strategy.
Once we reduce inflation, we can start to plan for the future. My goal is to create a more financially favorable economy for our nation.
I am certain that we will achieve this goal, but our first priority is to reduce inflation.
Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, stated that the UK is seen as a role model in areas like technology regulation by the rest of the world.
He told reporters:
Our nation typically succeeds in this aspect.
Our regulatory approach prioritizes principles and proportionality to safeguard necessary aspects, while also promoting innovation.
This is a defining characteristic of the United Kingdom.
According to Rishi Sunak, the UK cannot ignore the potential dangers of AI and must address them.
The prime minister answered questions following his speech.
Our taskforce is dedicated to investing a significant amount in AI safety research, surpassing all other countries in the world.
There is ongoing discussion about the likelihood of these risks occurring and the timeframe in which they may occur. This debate can be observed within the community of AI professionals and scholars.
In my opinion, despite any uncertainties, the potential risk is still significant. Therefore, it is important that we take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and protection of individuals. This is our ongoing commitment.
He stated that the upcoming safety summit and establishment of a new institute were reflective of his commitment to ensuring public safety.
Sunak continued:
We cannot ignore the issue at hand and hope that it will go away.
AI is not limited by borders, so our best course of action is to proactively develop the skills and resources to identify and counter potential risks.
Rishi Sunak stated that it is overly simplistic to believe that artificial intelligence will solely “automate and replace jobs”, acknowledging that all emerging technologies have an effect on the job market.
During the Q&A session following his presentation in London, he stated:
It is crucial to acknowledge that AI does not merely automate tasks and replace human jobs.
He suggested approaching it as a co-pilot, citing welfare case workers utilizing AI to assist them with their daily duties as an example.
Like any other technology, they impact our job market. Over time, they contribute to the growth and efficiency of our economy.
While they contribute to overall growth, these changes in the labor market should be noted.
According to Sunak, the most beneficial action the government can take is to provide a top-notch education, which he is striving to accomplish.
It is difficult to anticipate the specific changes in individuals’ careers, but as a government, we can ensure that our education system is top-notch.
This is the most effective method to ensure that all individuals in our nation reap the advantages of not only AI, but also any other advancements that come our way.
Source: theguardian.com
