Existential Risk Observatory Newsletter - Petition Edition
Sign the petition to the Dutch government - Almost 2000 signatures collected!
As you may have noticed through our facebook, twitter, or linkedin accounts, Existential Risk Observatory supports this petition to the Dutch government.
TL;DR - AI offers many opportunities, but also comes with huge risks. This is a call on the Dutch government to take control of its development. Make sure that humans decide what a future with AI looks like, not vice versa. Find a video here (in Dutch).
We call for the following points to be adopted or adhered to:
Take a leading role in Europe and implement high-level regulation of AI applications through EU legislation. Adopt the AI regulation this year. Make advanced AI, such as foundation models, fall under 'high risk', reduce systemic risks and enforce transparency about the training of the model.
Accelerate the adoption of the AI Convention in the Council of Europe and (co-)initiate the establishment of an international summit on AI in the short term.
Ask authorities with knowledge and experience of AI for advice, request a quick update of the WRR report “Opgave AI” and immediately link it to a government-wide action plan.
Have each ministry map out the areas in which AI will have a fundamental influence and map out where additional regulations are needed to steer that influence in the right direction. As a government, also establish an AI procurement strategy.
Inform the Dutch population in an accessible way about the opportunities and threats of the use of AI.
Monitor and guard the distinction between human and artificial. Enforce that it is clear when an expression has been created with AI or when a human communicates with AI. Force AI developers to be publicly accountable for the development choices they make.
It is unclear what the investments in research into AI risks are, but it is certain that far fewer FTEs are spent on this than on research into AI opportunities. That is why in the coming years we must work towards 300 full-time research positions in the fields of AI Safety, AI and the rule of law and existential risk in a new research institute to be set up and/or at existing institutes.
There is little time to achieve all this. Previously, our world changed radically thanks to revolutionary technology. The speed at which this happens is increasing significantly, this time around. We need to get a grip on artificial intelligence, and begin to organise human control over it, today.
Do you agree? Please sign here (in Dutch)! Thanks for your support!