G7 Industry Ministers Pledge to Ensure Safe and Reliable AI

Industry ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) emphasized the importance of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in a balanced and safe way to achieve sustainable development. The ministers met in Verona and Trento, Italy, committing to fostering innovation while promoting a secure and trustworthy AI.

During the meeting, representatives acknowledged that AI and other emerging technologies could play a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by boosting productivity, efficiency, business opportunities, and scientific discoveries. However, they also highlighted the challenges related to privacy, data protection, security, and intellectual property posed by digital technologies like AI.

The G7 ministers recognized the potential misuse of online platforms and AI-enabled products to spread hate speech, disinformation, and manipulation, which could further divide societies. They emphasized the need to integrate ethical considerations into the development and use of such technologies to address these challenges and risks.

Italian Under Secretary of State for Technological Innovation Alessio Butti chaired the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry, Technology, and Digital, as Italy holds the G7 presidency this year. The group, consisting of Canada, the US, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Japan, and representatives from the European Union, aims to promote a balanced approach to AI implementation for sustainable development.