Parliamentary Debate on AI Regulation & UNESCO’s AI Ethics

On 22nd May 2023 the chair and founder of the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies, Darren Jones MP, secured a debate in Parliament on the UK’s national AI strategy and UNESCO’s AI Ethics Framework.

Darren opened his remarks by making clear the more productive, innovative, and prosperous society that various adoptions of AI could bring. Whilst helping drive business investment in the private sector and boosting government tax receipts, increased adoption in the public sector can provide a more individualised and improved service with lower costs.

It was also made clear, however, that we must have the conditions that allow us to do this in a safe, ethical and just way. UNESCO’s Recommendations on the Ethics of AI provides the basis for the safe and ethical adoption of AI across countries, due to its basis in human rights, actionable policies, ethical impact assessments, and readiness assessment methodology. As the first global standard on AI Ethics, it was signed up to by all 193 member states of the UN.

The speech covered a range of low, medium, and advanced risks of AI, and how we can promote a national AI strategy which addresses these globally. At the level of national security and human rights, Darren mentioned live facial recognition and large language models as just two examples of the high risk systems which have the potential to damage the integrity of democratic processes around the world.

He also called for the UK to host a global summit to discuss AI safety.

Darren’s full speech can be watched here: UK’s AI Strategy Debated in Parliament.