A landmark agreement was struck this week between the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) on artificial intelligence (AI). The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) builds upon the creation of the UK’s and the US’ respective AI Safety Institutes, announced last November, confirming their intention to work together toward the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of advanced AI.
This MoU provides a more thorough and detailed basis for both London and Washington – already firm security and technology partners – to build towards their shared goals on good AI governance and safety, through a partnership on AI safety between the two countries’ Institutes. Both partners announced the ambition to identify and develop new opportunities for collaboration, on an ongoing basis, with a view to increasing alignment going forwards.
Through this MoU, the respective AI Safety Institutes intend to work closely to develop an interoperable programme of work and approach to safety research, to achieve their shared objectives on AI safety. More specifically, to develop a shared approach to model evaluations, including the underpinning methodologies, infrastructures, and processes, and to perform at least one joint testing exercise on a publicly accessible model.
Collaboration on AI safety technical research will also be prioritised, in order to advance international scientific knowledge of frontier AI models, and to facilitate sociotechnical policy alignment on AI safety and security.
In addition to deeper and wider joint collaboration between the two, both partners are committed to developing similar collaborations with other countries, in order to promote AI safety and manage frontier AI risks, whilst developing linkages between countries on AI safety. To achieve this, both the UK and the US announced a desire to work with other governments on international standards for AI safety testing and other standards applicable to the development, deployment, and use of frontier AI models.
This MoU builds upon and develops further the US-UK Declaration on Cooperation in AI R&D agreement from 2020, which sought to formalise cooperation in AI and to develop R&D collaboration – particularly in regards to establishing potentially global models for good governance and mitigate against misuse by authoritarian actors.
Safety in collaboration: The view from Washington:
Highlighting what this agreement means for both countries, and the implications for the wider AI ecosystem, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo made positive statements.
“By working together, we are furthering the long-lasting special relationship between the U.S. and UK and laying the groundwork to ensure that we’re keeping AI safe both now and in the future.”
US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
“AI is the defining technology of our generation. This partnership is going to accelerate both of our Institutes’ work across the full spectrum of risks, whether to our national security or to our broader society. Our partnership makes clear that we aren’t running away from these concerns – we’re running at them. Because of our collaboration, our Institutes will gain a better understanding of AI systems, conduct more robust evaluations, and issue more rigorous guidance.”
US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
Safety in collaboration: The view from London:
In London, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Michelle Donelan said that this agreement “represents a landmark moment, as the UK and the United States deepen our enduring special relationship to address the defining technology challenge of our generation.”
Highlighting both the joint collaboration nature of the agreement, but also of its wider global partnerships to come, Michelle Donelan added that; “We have always been clear that ensuring the safe development of AI is a shared global issue. Only by working together can we address the technology’s risks head on and harness its enormous potential to help us all live easier and healthier lives. The work of our two nations in driving forward AI safety will strengthen the foundations we laid at Bletchley Park in November, and I have no doubt that our shared expertise will continue to pave the way for countries tapping into AI’s enormous benefits safely and responsibly.”
Final Thoughts:
The UK has always been clear that ensuring the safe development of AI, particularly pioneering global good governance structures and architecture, is a shared global issue. This week’s agreement with the US reflects the importance of ongoing international collaboration.
This agreement builds upon shared frameworks already in place, whilst also seeing both countries share information about the capabilities and risks associated with AI models and systems, as well as fundamental technical research on AI safety and security. This vital work underpins a common approach to AI safety testing, allowing greater collaboration between researchers on both sides of the Atlantic – and around the world – to unite around a common scientific framework.
This article was written by Curia’s Director of Foreign Policy, Rob Clark. To read more about our insights on foreign policy and defence, subscribe to our newsletter here.
