U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to address the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) in a speech on Wednesday, calling for urgent action to protect the public from threats posed by the technology. Harris will announce a series of new initiatives aimed at addressing safety concerns associated with AI.
During her speech in London, Harris will highlight the risks posed by AI, including cyber-attacks and the development of bioweapons. She will unveil plans for the establishment of a new AI Safety Institute in the United States, which will be responsible for assessing potential risks.
The timing of Harris’ speech has raised some eyebrows within the governing Conservative Party in the UK. Some suggest that Washington is attempting to overshadow Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s AI Security Summit, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. However, British officials deny these claims, asserting that they welcome diverse perspectives on the matter.
Harris will emphasize the potential of AI to enable cyber-attacks on an unprecedented scale and the development of bioweapons that could endanger millions of lives. Extracts from her speech, released by her office, reveal her intention to call for a collective vision of the future in light of the urgency of the situation.
The Vice President is attending London’s summit on artificial intelligence, where global leaders and tech experts will convene to discuss the future of the technology. Harris’ speech follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent executive order, which aims to enhance government oversight of AI systems that may pose risks to national security, the economy, public health, or safety.
The newly established U.S. AI Safety Institute will collaborate with international peer institutions, including Britain’s planned AI Safety Institute, to share information and conduct joint research.
In addition, Harris will announce that 30 countries have agreed to sign a U.S.-sponsored political declaration on the use of AI by national militaries.
The speech will be delivered by Andrew MacAskill and edited by Elizabeth Piper and Kate Holton.
