London, 6 September 2024 (TDI): On Thursday, the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom were set to sign the first legally binding international convention on artificial intelligence.
The AI treaty prioritizes democracy and human rights when regulating AI systems, both public and private.
In order to supervise AI technology and protect individuals from potential exploitation, parties to the new framework agreed upon by the Council of Europe must work together.
The AI treaty is different from the recently passed EU AI Act in that it places more emphasis on protecting the human rights of those who are affected by AI systems.
The goal of the AI treaty, which was formally ratified in May after years of intensive discussions involving 57 countries, is to both promote responsible innovation in a variety of fields and applications and address any possible hazards related to AI technologies.
On the other hand, the EU’s AI Act includes extensive regulations that control the development, use, and distribution of AI technologies within the EU internal market.
The 47 member nations of the Council of Europe, which was founded in 1949 and includes all 27 EU countries, are committed to upholding human rights. It operates independently of the EU.
The US, Israel, Australia, and other non-EU nations are among those asked to sign the AI treaty, even though the UK withdrew from the EU in 2020 but is still a member of the council.
“We need to make sure that the development of AI reinforces our standards rather than weakens them,” stated Marija Pejcinovic Buric, secretary general of the Council of Europe.
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“Open treaty with a potentially global reach” is how Pejcinovic Buric described the treaty.
Artificial intelligence holds promise for benefits like increased productivity and better cancer diagnosis.
The UK government pointed out in a news release that this recently formed convention includes vital safeguards against potential downsides like the spread of misleading information and the use of biased data that could result in biased decision-making.
“This treaty is a significant step toward guaranteeing that these new technologies can be utilized without undermining our most fundamental principles, such as the rule of law and human rights,” said Shabana Mahmood, the UK’s minister of justice.
