China has agreed to participate in an upcoming global summit on artificial intelligence, as confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.
However, Dowden also noted that they will wait to see the actual attendance at the summit. As it stands, they do anticipate China’s presence.
The United Kingdom is convening this summit on November 1-2, bringing together representatives from AI companies, political leaders, and experts.
The objective is to address the perceived risks associated with AI and work towards establishing an international consensus for its safe development.
During a recent speech, the Prime Minister cautioned about the potential dangers and opportunities presented by AI but couldn’t guarantee with absolute certainty whether Chinese officials would attend the event.
The decision to invite China to the summit has sparked controversy, especially given the ongoing tensions between Western countries and Beijing, despite recent diplomatic efforts by the UK and US.
Liz Truss, a proponent of a tough stance on China, voiced her concerns and called for the invitation to be withdrawn.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden had earlier confirmed that China, a significant player in the AI field, had accepted the British invitation to the summit.
The Prime Minister defended the decision to include China, aligning it with the UK’s foreign policy, and emphasizing the UK’s role as a leader in regulating and managing AI’s growth.
The absence of China at the summit, if it were to occur, would mean that a crucial AI powerhouse would be missing from the event, which is being held at the historic location associated with Second World War codebreakers.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak justified the decision to include China, emphasizing the importance of engaging with all major AI powers for a comprehensive AI strategy.
