Twenty countries propose a global oversight body to manage AI risks

Twenty countries and the European Union have issued a call for international cooperation to ensure that AI remains under human control, including the possible creation of a global oversight body to set and enforce standards.

The countries, including Germany, South Africa, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, issued the joint statement on Monday, as global leaders prepare to discuss the risks posed by the rapid progress of AI at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

The statement, issued by the office of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, calls on governments and industry to act immediately to ensure that AI is developed in line with international law and remains under “human direction, oversight and control.”

“To realize the potential of AI, industry, governments and society must act now,” the statement says.

“We must address these risks and strengthen oversight – without widening the gap between countries in access to the benefits of AI.”

The statement calls on countries to develop and coordinate “common standards,” share reports of serious safety incidents, and consider creating an international institution to “set standards, enable verification and bring states together when capability thresholds are exceeded.”

The signatories include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Kenyan President William Ruto, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The United States and China, the world’s two leading powers in artificial intelligence, did not join the statement, which remains “open for endorsement” by other countries.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss artificial intelligence when they meet at the White House on Thursday for their third face-to-face summit in less than a year.

Washington and Beijing, locked in a race to dominate advanced technologies, have rejected calls to slow down the development of artificial intelligence to ensure greater safety.

Other AI players not among the signatories include India, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom and France.

The statement comes at a time when the artificial intelligence sector is embroiled in a heated debate over safety, following calls to slow development from leading industry figures. Source: Telegrafi