BEERG Newsletter 36 - AI: Regulations everywhere

About a year ago, OpenAI released ChatGPT and the debate about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) was about to change the world exploded. The European Union was already working on the AI Act which will govern the use of AI across the EU and ChatGPT gave it new relevance. The legislators are still working on the text. See here for a useful update on the state of play.  

This week, President Biden signed a comprehensive Executive Order which The New York Times described as “a first step as the Biden administration seeks to put guardrails on a global technology that offers great promise but also carries significant dangers”. See this Fact Sheet from the White House. 

UN secretary-general António Guterres has announced the creation of a 39-member advisory body to address issues in the international governance of AI. He said: “The transformative potential of AI for good is difficult even to grasp," adding: “And without entering into a host of doomsday scenarios, it is already clear that the malicious use of AI could undermine trust in institutions, weaken social cohesion and threaten democracy itself.” The UN body will issue preliminary recommendations by the end of this year and final recommendations by the summer of 2024.

Not to be outdone, G7 nations are set to agree a code of conduct for companies developing advanced AI systems. The voluntary code of conduct will set a landmark for how countries govern AI, with officials looking to mitigate the risks and potential misuse of the technology. Documents show that the code “aims to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI worldwide and will provide voluntary guidance for actions by organisations developing the most advanced AI systems, including the most advanced foundation models and generative AI systems.” This, it adds, will help “seize the benefits and address the risks and challenges brought by these technologies." The code says firms should post public reports on the capabilities, limitations and the use and misuse of AI systems. They should also invest in robust security controls.

This week the UK will host the world's first global artificial intelligence (AI) safety summit to examine the risks of the fast-growing technology and kickstart an international dialogue on its regulation. See here from Reuters. 

Our colleagues at Ius Laboris have published a report (which can be found at this link) Is Employment Law Ready for AI? The report concerns the use of artificial intelligence through the life cycle of employment: from recruitment, through management of work processes, to dismissal decisions.

You can also read HR Policy’s press release: Large Employers Support Responsible AI Use

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On November 7th (at 12pm EST) HR Policy Association, partnering with Deloitte, will host a Webinar on: The Implications of AI in Productivity and Government Oversight. 

Members can register to attend: HERE