International AI safety meeting in San Francisco after US elections

Following the U.S. elections, a significant international AI safety meeting is scheduled for November 20 and 21 in San Francisco. This gathering will involve government scientists and AI experts from at least nine countries and the European Union, aiming to address the safe development of AI technology and mitigate its associated risks. This meeting is a continuation of efforts initiated at the AI Safety Summit in the UK, where countries pledged to collaborate on AI safety measures. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized the importance of establishing standards to manage the risks of AI-generated content and its potential misuse. The meeting will focus on urgent issues, including the rise of AI-generated misinformation and the need for regulatory frameworks to ensure AI systems are safe and secure. The discussions will also consider the implications of AI in sensitive areas such as nuclear weapons and bioterrorism. The San Francisco meeting is part of a broader initiative that includes a future AI summit in Paris, set for February. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for international cooperation in AI safety, especially as generative AI technologies continue to evolve rapidly. Notably, China is absent from this collaborative network, raising questions about global alignment on AI safety standards. The Biden administration has been proactive in pushing for safety measures, including an executive order requiring AI developers to share safety test results. However, the current system remains voluntary, and there is a call for Congress to take further action to establish mandatory safety protocols for AI technologies.