At a global AI summit, former Chinese ambassador Fu Ying clashed with professor Yoshua Bengio over an AI safety report he led, highlighting differences between Chinese and Western approaches to AI. The summit aims to foster international collaboration among leaders on AI regulation and public interests amidst rising concerns over geopolitical tensions in technology developments.
At a recent global AI summit in Paris, Fu Ying, former ambassador of China to the UK, publicly criticized a significant AI safety report led by esteemed professor Yoshua Bengio, known as the ‘AI Godfather.’ As discussions unfolded, she humorously pointed out the extensive length of the report and the challenges of translating it into Chinese, hinting at formal differences in AI institutional focus between China and the West.
The summit, which aims to attract over 80 nations, seeks to foster collaboration among world leaders, technology executives, and academics on crucial discussions surrounding AI’s societal implications. Key figures such as Sam Altman of OpenAI and Sundar Pichai of Google participated, highlighting the importance of regulating AI amidst the rising capabilities from nations like China, particularly after the announcement of its competitive AI model, DeepSeek.
Fu Ying articulated concerns over deteriorating Sino-American relations, which she believes hinder global AI safety and collaboration. She showcased China’s rapid innovation in the AI sector since implementing its development plan in 2017, noting that swift progress can yield significant risks. Fu emphasized the value of open-source foundations in AI development to ensure transparency and mitigate associated harms, unlike practices among US tech entities.
Professor Bengio countered Fu’s stance by expressing concerns regarding the misuse of open-source technology by malicious actors. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the openly developed Chinese AI system DeepSeek facilitated easier identification of safety issues compared to proprietary technologies like ChatGPT, which lacks public transparency.
On the second day of the summit, prominent leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to discuss AI’s future impact on labor and public services, alongside joint initiatives to advance AI for the public good. This includes a newly announced $400 million partnership aimed at boosting AI projects in essential areas such as healthcare, raising crucial questions regarding the responsible adoption of this transformative technology.
The global AI summit in Paris serves as a platform for leaders and experts from various nations to engage in discussions about the implications of artificial intelligence across different sectors, including governance and public welfare. The event follows notable developments, such as the unveiling of a competitive AI model by China, underscoring the ongoing race between nations to harness AI’s potential. The conversations surrounding the responsible development and regulation of AI reflect larger geopolitical dynamics between major powers, particularly the US and China, which struggle to find common ground amid rising tensions.
The panel featuring Fu Ying and Yoshua Bengio reflects deep-seated divisions in global perspectives on AI safety and development. As nations like China continue to advance in AI technology, the need for international collaboration and transparency becomes critical. The summit serves as a reminder of both the challenges and opportunities AI presents, emphasizing the importance of united efforts to address its far-reaching implications for society.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
