Nigeria, 27 other countries sign Bletchley Declaration in commitment to AI safety

Business a.m

In a landmark agreement, Nigeria has become one of 28 countries to sign the Bletchley Declaration, the world’s first international agreement to establish a shared understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with the development of frontier AI. The declaration calls for collaboration between governments to address the biggest challenges in this rapidly evolving field.

The Bletchley Declaration was signed at the historic Bletchley Park in the UK, where leading AI nations gathered for the first time at the AI Summit to address the opportunities and risks of AI. Nigeria was represented at the summit by Bosun Tijani, minister of communications and digital economy, who played an instrumental role in representing the country’s interests and ensuring that the declaration reflects the unique perspectives of Nigeria and other African countries.

The signatories to the agreement, representing 28 countries from across the world, including Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the EU, have agreed on the need for a global effort to manage the potential risks of AI and ensure its safe and responsible development for the benefit of the global community.

One of the key objectives of the summit was to establish shared understanding and responsibility around the risks and opportunities of frontier AI. The declaration also outlines a process for future international collaboration on AI safety and research, particularly through greater scientific cooperation.

In a statement released by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the countries acknowledged that significant risks could arise from the intentional misuse or unintended issues of control of frontier AI, with cybersecurity, biotechnology, and misinformation being particular areas of concern.

Rishi Sunak,prime minister of the United Kingdom described the Bletchley Declaration as a historic achievement, bringing together the world’s leading AI powers to recognise the importance of addressing the risks posed by AI.

“The UK is once again leading the world at the forefront of this new technological frontier by kickstarting this conversation, which will see us work together to make AI safe and realise all its benefits for generations to come,” he said.

The Bletchley Declaration was signed by 28 countries, including: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Korea, Rwanda, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The global effort reflects the commitment of these countries to work together to address the risks of AI and promote its responsible and safe development.