Global leaders gather for AI summit amidst industry shifts and tensions, with China’s former UK ambassador Fu Ying at odds with AI pioneer Prof Yoshua Bengio over open-source vs. closed-source development.
A two-day global AI summit is set to begin in Paris, bringing together world leaders, tech executives, and academics to examine the impact of artificial intelligence on society, governance, and the environment. The event aims to unite nations from 80 countries, including big names in US tech such as ‘OpenAI‘s Sam Altman, Microsoft’s Brad Smith, and Google’s Sundar Pichai‘.
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
AI has made significant progress in recent years, with applications in areas like image recognition, natural language processing, and predictive analytics.
According to a report by Gartner, the global AI market is expected to reach $190 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 38%.
Major tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Facebook are investing heavily in AI research and development.
A panel discussion ahead of the summit saw a heated exchange between Fu Ying, China’s former UK ambassador, and Prof Yoshua Bengio, known as the ‘AI Godfather.’ Fu Ying poked fun at the major international AI safety report led by Prof Bengio and co-authored by 96 global experts. She expressed regret about the negative impact of tensions between the US and China on the progress of AI safety.
Fu Ying described an ‘explosive period‘ of innovation in China since the country published its AI development plan in 2017, five years before ‘ChatGPT became a viral sensation.’ She argued that building AI tools on foundations which are open source is the most effective way to ensure the tech does not cause harm.
Artificial intelligence (AI) development has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by advancements in machine learning and natural language processing.
According to a report, the global AI market is projected to reach $190 billion by 2025.
The increasing adoption of AI technology is attributed to its ability to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and drive business innovation.
Key players in the AI development landscape include Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which have made substantial investments in AI research and development.
Fu Ying emphasized the importance of transparency in AI development, stating that open-source offers humans ‘better opportunities to detect and solve problems.‘ However, Prof Bengio disagreed, arguing that open-source also leaves the tech wide open for criminals to misuse.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made tremendous progress in recent years, but with its increasing adoption comes the need for robust safety measures.
As AI systems become more autonomous, there is a growing concern about their potential to cause harm.
To mitigate this risk, researchers are developing techniques such as value alignment and robustness testing.
These methods aim to ensure that AI systems align with human values and can withstand unexpected inputs or scenarios.
The summit comes weeks after a seismic industry shift as ‘China’s DeepSeek unveiled a powerful, low-cost AI model challenging US dominance.’ A key focus is regulating AI in an increasingly fractured world. The event will include discussions on how AI will impact the world of work and be used in the public interest, as well as how to mitigate its risks.
A new $400m partnership between several countries has been announced, aimed at supporting AI initiatives that serve the public interest, such as healthcare. UK technology secretary Peter Kyle warned that it would be dangerous for the UK to fall behind in its adoption of the tech.
Dr Laura Gilbert advised that maintaining the NHS is essential due to the efficiencies promised by AI. Matt Clifford warned that the tech would be ‘more radical‘ than when typing was replaced with word processing, as computers first entered the workplace. Marc Warner added that he did not believe his two-year-old child would ‘have a job as we know them today.’
