The Council of Europe has adopted the first international treaty aimed at ensuring the observance of human rights, the rule of law, and democratic legal standards in the use of AI systems. The Council of Europe's Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law was approved in Strasbourg during the annual ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers, which brings together the foreign affairs ministers from its 46 member states.
Legal Framework and Global Participation
This treaty establishes a legal framework that covers the entire lifecycle of AI systems and addresses the risks they may pose, promoting responsible innovation. "The treaty is open for signature to countries outside of Europe as well," according to a Council of Europe press release. The framework convention will be open for signing in Vilnius on September 5, during a conference of justice ministers.
The text itself was developed over two years by an intergovernmental body that included the 46 member states of the Council, the European Union, and 11 third-party states (USA, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Japan), as well as representatives from the private sector, civil society, and academia as observers.
This unique international treaty will ensure that artificial intelligence respects human rights. "With this new treaty, we aim to ensure the responsible use of AI, one that respects human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The treaty addresses the need for an international legal norm supported by states from different continents united by common values, making it possible to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence while reducing the risks it presents," said Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Treaty Goals and Transparency Requirements
"The convention establishes transparency requirements and controls tailored to specific contexts and risks, particularly identifying content generated by AI systems. Parties will need to adopt measures to identify, assess, prevent, and mitigate potential risks and evaluate the necessity of a moratorium, prohibition, or other appropriate measures regarding the use of AI systems when such use may present risks incompatible with human rights standards," representatives of the Council of Europe stated.
Governments are trying to keep pace with advancements in the field of AI, and to this end, the United Kingdom together with South Korea are organizing the second global AI summit, focused on progress accompanied by a range of AI-related risks.
Upcoming Global AI Summits
The AI summit in Seoul will focus on three priorities: AI safety, innovation, and inclusion. Other topics to be discussed with experts from over 30 countries include: "the broad impact on the labor market, cyber and biological attacks, and society's loss of control over AI"; the report also mentions the environmental impact of the vast amounts of electricity used by AI data centers.
Just before the summit, the British Institute for AI Safety announced that it would open an office in the United States during the summer, in hopes of intensifying international collaboration on regulating these technologies.
AIExpoEurope: Major AI Conference in Bucharest
In Bucharest, Romania, on October 6-7, 2024, one of the largest AI conferences in Europe, AIExpoEurope, will take place. Topics of discussion will be vast: from education to ecology, from the legal field to profound societal changes, from architecture and urbanism to art, and especially the impact on future professions and providing possible answers to the big question: will AI take our jobs?
"The impact that technology has on humanity is a double-edged sword. AI will dramatically but also subtly influence our daily lives. It is necessary to have education in digitization and emerging technologies, but it is equally important for national and international entities to create a safe environment that guarantees personal freedoms as well as development and research. Any method of education in the field of AI is welcome," says Adrian Posteucă, a specialist in emerging technologies.
For more information, to purchase tickets or promotional packages, visit: www.aiexpoeurope.com
"The event we are organizing is aimed at education in emerging industries. AI is already part of our lives and is set to change it in many aspects, which is why we will bring speakers from all the fields directly impacted by AI to Bucharest," says Ruxandra Tătaru, co-founder and CEO of AIExpoEurope and CryptoExpoEurope.