In a significant move towards enhancing the safety of AI, 16 of the world’s leading AI firms announced new safety commitments at a global summit in Seoul today (21 May). 

The agreement, highlighted in a statement from the British government, includes prominent names like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic.

This initiative builds upon the foundational consensus reached during the inaugural global AI safety summit held at Bletchley Park in the UK last year.

 UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the importance of these commitments in ensuring transparency and accountability in the development of safe AI. “These commitments ensure the world’s leading AI companies will provide transparency and accountability on their plans to develop safe AI,” said Sunak. 

A key aspect of the agreement is the requirement for AI firms to publish their risk assessment frameworks if they have not already done so. 

These frameworks will outline the risks deemed intolerable and the measures the firms will take to avoid crossing these thresholds. The specific definitions of these thresholds are set to be decided before the next AI summit, which France will host in 2025.

The commitment list includes: 

1. Amazon 
2. Anthropic 
3. Cohere 
4. Google / Google DeepMind 
5. G42 
6. IBM 
7. Inflection AI 
8. Meta 
9. Microsoft 
10. Mistral AI 
11. Naver 
12. OpenAI 
13. Samsung Electronics 
14. Technology Innovation Institute 
15. xAI 
16. Zhipu.ai

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Besides safety, the summit also focuses on how governments can foster AI innovation, especially in academic research, and ensure the technology is accessible for addressing global challenges like climate change and poverty.

The Seoul summit’s timing is noteworthy, coming just days after OpenAI disbanded a team dedicated to mitigating the long-term risks of advanced AI. 

The two-day summit features a mix of virtual and in-person sessions, including closed-door discussions and public events. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and UK Prime Minister Sunak will co-chair a virtual session with global leaders later on Tuesday, underscoring the international cooperation required to navigate the complex landscape of AI development and safety.

“The true potential of AI will only be unleashed if we’re able to grip the risks. It is on all of us to make sure AI is developed safely and today’s agreement means we now have bolstered commitments from AI companies and better representation across the globe,” said technology secretary Michelle Donelan.