20 countries call for international body to oversee AI — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Twenty countries and the European Union have called for international cooperation to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) remains under human control, including exploring the creation of an international body to set and enforce standards, Al Jazeera reported. The joint statement was issued on Monday as world leaders prepare to discuss the risks posed by rapidly advancing AI at the annual United Nations General Assembly. Germany, South Africa, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore are among the countries that endorsed the statement. The declaration, issued by the office of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, calls on governments and the technology industry to take immediate action to ensure AI is developed in accordance with international law and remains under “human direction, oversight and control”. “To realise AI’s potential, industry, governments and society must act now,” the statement said. It urged governments and regional organisations to develop and coordinate common standards, strengthen transparency and share reports of serious AI safety incidents. The countries also called for exploring the establishment of an international institution capable of setting standards, enabling verification and bringing states together when specified AI capability thresholds are reached. The statement said AI companies should develop transparent safety mechanisms, including mandatory testing before deployment and independent evaluation, to ensure increasingly advanced systems do not pose serious risks. Signatories include German…