AI News: Top Official Says US Is Relying On UK’s AI Expertise

British Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan stated that the United States is relying on the UK’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) expertise considering that the latter is more advanced in the field.

Artificial Intelligence Safety Pursuit Formalized

As reported by The Telegraph, Donelan was in Washington DC earlier this week to sign a landmark cooperation agreement between the British and American AI safety institutes after a few months of behind-the-scenes diplomacy. The state secretary criticized the European Union for regulating its AI landscape in haste, citing that the collaboration between the U.S. and the UK on AI is now part of the ‘special relationship’ that the duo shares.

“We are sharing both expertise and information on the technology that will decide this generation,” she said “There is a deep, special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States in our work on AI.”

This follows an earlier report from Coingape noting that the U.S. government and Britain entered a partnership that seeks to pursue AI safety. During last year’s AI safety summit that was held in Bletchley Park, both governments committed to setting up AI safety institutes to understand the risks associated with the technology. Britain has had its institute running since November and even got £100 million investment to boost this framework.

The U.S. is just looking to fund its National Institute of Standards and Technology where the AI institute will operate from. This agency has remained underfunded for the longest possible time with staff constantly struggling with leaky roofs, poor internet, blackouts, and even molds. 

UK To Offer Advise To American AI Institutes

With a great understanding of where each of these nations is presently in their AI safety push, calls, and emails have been exchanged. 

Both parties have also had physical meetings like the one that was held in a quiet room on the sidelines of a G7 gathering in Verona. The US Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, and Donelan have been at the forefront of these conversations.

The UK is focused on providing technical advice to the U.S. on how to set up its institute while it thrashes a formal cooperation deal with the nation.