Report-UK To Invite China To AI Summit, But Only 6 EU Members

A report from the outlet Sifted, covering news around startups, states that according to three people familiar with the talks, the UK is set to invite representatives from China to its planned AI summit from 1-2 November, but only six EU member states. The article claims that "France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have been invited to the summit alongside the US, Canada, South Africa, Brazil and India, among others, according to two diplomats. The European Commission is also expected to be represented."

• The UK is attempting to position itself as a global leader in both the development but also regulation of AI, seeking to advocate its 'middle ground' stance between more laissez-faire US attitudes and the EU, which is seen as favouring a more heavy-handed regulatory approach.
• The UK's summit is one of a number focusedon the issue of AI in late-2023, and risks being seen as an also-ran. The Japanese G7 presidency is already engaged in its own efforts to reach agreements on AI governance within the group, while a December meeting in New Delhi of the 'Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) ' will include 29 countries (not including China). The UK's potential inclusion of China could see other G7 members drop out as they seek to distance any decision-making on AI issues from Beijing.