The United States and the United Kingdom signed a landmark agreement on Monday to collaborate on testing artificial intelligence models, becoming the first two countries to formally work together on AI safety.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan signed the partnership, which follows through on commitments made at the AI Safety Summit last November.
The partnership – effective immediately – will allow the U.S. and UK AI Safety Institutes to work together on building a common approach to AI safety testing, with plans to perform at least one joint testing exercise on a publicly accessible model.
“AI is the defining technology of our generation. This partnership is going to accelerate both of our Institutes’ work across the full spectrum of risks, whether to our national security or to our broader society,” Raimondo said in an April 1 press release. “Our partnership makes clear that we aren’t running away from these concerns – we’re running at them.”
“Because of our collaboration, our institutes will gain a better understanding of AI systems, conduct more robust evaluations, and issue more rigorous guidance,” she added. “By working together, we are furthering the long-lasting special relationship between the U.S. and UK and laying the groundwork to ensure that we’re keeping AI safe both now and in the future.”
The partnership will allow both countries to share key information on the capabilities and risks of AI, as well as technical research on AI safety and security.
As their collaboration grows, the two countries have also pledged to develop similar partnerships with other countries to promote AI safety around the world.
“This agreement represents a landmark moment, as the UK and the United States deepen our enduring special relationship to address the defining technology challenge of our generation,” said Donelan. “We have always been clear that ensuring the safe development of AI is a shared global issue.”
“Only by working together can we address the technology’s risks head on and harness its enormous potential to help us all live easier and healthier lives,” the UK official added. “The work of our two nations in driving forward AI safety will strengthen the foundations we laid at Bletchley Park in November, and I have no doubt that our shared expertise will continue to pave the way for countries tapping into AI’s enormous benefits safely and responsibly.”
This work also supports the responsibilities assigned to the Commerce Department under the historic AI executive order that President Biden signed last fall.
