26th May 2023 – (Tokyo) Officials from the Group of Seven (G7) nations will meet next week to discuss the challenges presented by generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, according to Japan’s Communications Minister, Takeaki Matsumoto.
Last week, leaders from the G7, which includes the United States, European Union, and Japan, agreed to form an intergovernmental forum called the “Hiroshima AI process” to discuss issues related to the rapid growth of AI tools.
On May 30, G7 government officials will hold the first working-level AI meeting to consider issues such as intellectual property protection, disinformation, and how AI technology should be governed.
The meeting comes as tech regulators worldwide are assessing the impact of popular AI services like ChatGPT, which is backed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI. The EU is also moving closer to enacting the world’s first major legislation on AI, which is inspiring other governments to consider what rules should be applied to AI tools.
As this year’s chair of the G7, Japan will lead the discussion on the responsible use of generative AI technology, Matsumoto said. The forum hopes to come up with suggestions for heads of state by the end of the year.
At last week’s Hiroshima G7 summit, leaders also called for the development and adoption of international technical standards to ensure that AI remains “trustworthy” and “in line with our shareddemocratic values.”
The G7 AI working group will seek input from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Matsumoto added.
The rapid development of AI tools has raised concerns about their potential impact on society, including issues related to privacy, security, bias, and employment. As such, it is crucial for governments to work together to address these challenges and ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly.