Exclusive: G7 to Agree AI Code of Conduct for Companies

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The Group of Seven industrialized nations will agree on Monday a code of conduct for companies developing advanced artificial intelligence systems, a G7 document showed, as governments seek to reduce the risks and potential misuse of the technology. .

The voluntary code of conduct would set a benchmark for how major countries govern AI amid privacy concerns and security risks, the document seen by Reuters shows.

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) economies, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union, launched the process in May at a ministerial forum dubbed "Hiroshima." AI process”.

The G7 document states that the 11-point code aims to "promote safe, secure and reliable AI worldwide and will provide voluntary guidance for initiatives by organizations developing the most advanced AI systems, including State-of-the-art Foundation Models and Generative AI Systems”.

It aims to "help realize the benefits and address the risks and challenges brought about by these technologies".

The Code urges companies to take appropriate steps to identify, assess and mitigate risks throughout the AI ​​lifecycle, as well as to address incidents and patterns of misuse once AI products are on the market.

Companies should post public reports about the capabilities, limitations, and uses and abuses of AI systems, and should also invest in stronger security controls.

The EU has been at the forefront of regulating the emerging technology with its tough AI Act, while Japan, the United States and countries in Southeast Asia have adopted a more hands-off approach than the bloc to promote economic growth.

The European Commission's digital chief Vera Jourova said earlier this month at an internet governance forum in Kyoto, Japan that the code of conduct is a strong foundation for ensuring security and that until the code is in place A bridge will do.

Analyzing Conduct of AI

The G7 AI code of conduct for companies was agreed upon on May 20, 2023, at the G7 Digital and Technology Ministers' Meeting in Hiroshima, Japan. The code is a voluntary set of principles that companies can follow to develop and deploy AI systems in a safe, responsible, and ethical manner.

The code is based on the following 11 principles: 

Transparency: Companies should be transparent about how their AI systems work and how they are used.

Accountability: Companies should be accountable for the decisions made by their AI systems.

Fairness: AI systems should be designed and used in a way that is fair and unbiased.

Reliability: AI systems should be reliable and trustworthy.

Security: AI systems should be secure and protected from cyberattacks.

Privacy: AI systems should respect the privacy of individuals and their data.

Inclusion: AI systems should be designed and used in a way that is inclusive of all people.

Human oversight: AI systems should be subject to human oversight.

Values alignment: AI systems should be aligned with human values.

Benefit society: AI systems should be used for the benefit of society.

Environmental sustainability: AI systems should be designed and used in a way that is environmentally sustainable.

The code is a significant step forward in the development of international norms for the responsible development and use of AI. It is expected to have a major impact on the way that AI companies operate around the world. 

More recent information about the Developments regarding AI 

On July 18, 2023, the European Commission published a draft AI Act, which is a comprehensive set of rules for the development and use of AI in the EU. The draft AI Act includes a number of provisions that are aligned with the G7 AI code of conduct, such as requirements for transparency, accountability, fairness, and human oversight.

On August 4, 2023, the United States Department of Commerce released a draft AI Blueprint for America, which is a national strategy for the development and deployment of AI in the US. The draft blueprint includes a number of principles that are similar to those in the G7 AI code of conduct, such as the need for AI systems to be fair, reliable, and secure.

These developments suggest that the G7 AI code of conduct is gaining traction and is likely to become an important reference point for the global regulation of AI.

(Courtesy: Reuters)

Also Read: What You Should Know About G7?