G7 to consider how to curb AI

Representatives of the Group of Seven countries will meet next week to address the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Reuters reports.

Leaders of the G7, which includes the United States, the European Union and Japan, agreed last week to set up an intergovernmental forum called the Hiroshima AI Process. There, they will discuss the rapid development of AI tools.

Japanese Communications Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said that G7 officials will hold the first working meeting on AI on 30 May and will address issues such as intellectual property protection, disinformation, and how the technology should be managed.

The meeting comes as tech regulators around the world assess the impact of popular AI services such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which is backed by Microsoft.

The European Union is close to adopting the world's first major artificial intelligence legislation. This should inspire other governments to consider what rules should be applied to AI tools.

Japan, which holds the G7 presidency this year, will lead the G7 discussion "on the rapid use of generative artificial intelligence technology," Mr Matsumoto said. He added that the forum hopes to come up with proposals for the heads of state by the end of the year.

Last week, at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, leaders also called for the development and adoption of international technical standards to keep AI "trustworthy" and "consistent with our shared democratic values."

The G7 AI working group will seek input from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Matsumoto said at a regular press conference.

Earlier, Bill Gates said that artificial intelligence could kill Google Search and Amazon as we know them.

During the Goldman Sachs and SV Angel event dedicated to artificial intelligence, Bill Gates said that the future AI personal assistant would be so deep that the first company to develop it would be able to get ahead of the competition. According to him, this technology can radically change user behaviour, so that people no longer have to visit a search website, use certain productivity tools or make purchases.

According to Gates, it will take some time until this powerful digital agent of the future is ready for mass use.