The Shadow of AI Development: National Security and Human Threats
Moves Toward Joint Response Measures
The United States has taken the lead in reaching a global consensus on artificial intelligence (AI) regulations alongside countries around the world. This is based on the judgment that there must be common regulations to prevent national security threats and risks to humanity, which have emerged as shadows of the worldwide AI development boom that surged since last year.
The photo shows 'Figure 01,' a humanoid robot from 'Figure AI.' It is not directly related to the article.
On the 14th (local time), Bloomberg reported that the United States submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting safe and trustworthy AI systems. Bloomberg stated, “Upon reviewing the draft, it includes provisions to establish effective safeguards for AI use, including security systems and risk management.” It also encourages private AI developers to comply with relevant international and domestic laws. The draft contains measures to reduce the AI technology gap between developed and developing countries.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, explained, “As AI technology rapidly advances, there was an urgent need for member states to respond collectively at this critical moment.”
The resolution is confirmed to be sponsored by more than 50 countries. Since UN resolutions are only recommendations, they do not have legal binding force.
However, amid growing efforts by countries worldwide to secure AI technology supremacy, it is regarded as a significant advancement that governments have reached a common understanding on AI regulations. There is a positive outlook that AI will enrich human life, but because AI has the potential to wield power capable of destroying human life, a consensus among countries was urgently needed. Bloomberg analyzed, “Considering incidents in the U.S. where innocent people were charged with crimes due to AI facial recognition technology and the temporary drop in the U.S. stock market caused by fake AI-generated photos of explosions at the Pentagon (the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters), the ultimate concern that AI could become a villain and destroy humanity does not seem to remain only in the realm of fiction.”
The world is currently busy preparing AI regulatory proposals at the national level. Experts point out that a joint international response is essential to address the technical risks posed by advanced AI.
On the 13th, the EU passed the world’s first comprehensive AI regulatory law. It categorizes AI application areas into four risk levels and applies differentiated regulations accordingly. This law, which can impose fines of up to 7% of global revenue for violations, will be fully enforced after 2026.
In China, 24 government-issued guidelines targeting generative AI services came into effect in August last year. These require appropriate labeling of AI-generated content and compliance with data privacy and intellectual property regulations.
In the United States, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on AI last October. The order requires that if AI models developed by domestic companies pose threats to national security, the economy, or public health, federal agencies must be notified.
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