Washington Newsletter: Focus on artificial intelligence

The development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to move at breakneck speed. But legislation moves at a more glacial pace, leaving us all to wonder what the rules of the road will ultimately be for this emerging technology. Political affiliation and personal opinions aside, one thing is irrefutable — AI isn’t going away, and the world must adapt and regulate it, or it has the potential to run amok, running the risk of irreversible societal damage.

But how will regulation be implemented? In this special edition of our Washington Newsletter, we explore how different regions around the world are approaching the challenges and opportunities of AI.

In the US, with the November presidential election looming, more than a dozen states have or are considering varying steps to get ahead of the dangers of AI and “deepfakes” in elections. These steps include outright bans, disclosures, and fines for candidates and/or outside groups that use AI or deepfakes without proper approval. Legislators have also introduced bipartisan legislation that would require financial regulators to address uses of AI-generated content that could disrupt financial markets.

The European Union is regulating AI systems using a risk-based approach, categorizing systems on a spectrum ranging from “general purpose” to “unacceptable risk.” With the EU AI Act expected to become law in Q2 2024, there will be an array of new rules for providers and users of AI systems, as well as penalties for infringements.

The United Kingdom has chosen not to legislate AI at this stage, but rather to set out a principles-based, non-statutory framework for regulating AI — an approach that the UK government has described as “pro-innovation.”

In the Asia-Pacific region, there’s considerable excitement about the potential for AI to accelerate economic growth, raise living standards, and improve health care and education. While the regulatory stance differs across the Asia-Pacific, several countries have already taken important steps towards clarifying their approach to regulation on AI safety. 

Also in this edition:

• While the presidential elections may be dominating US headlines, down ballot races tell a bigger story of the ideological shift in the electorate, particularly on the Republican side. It remains to be seen if the far-right wins at the ballot box are foreshadowing long-term success, or if we’ll see a repeat of the 2022 midterms, where Trump-backed candidates dominated in the primaries and flopped in the general election. 

• Concerns continue to grow about the devastation and civilian casualties in Gaza, with the UN food agency warning that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza. In his State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden announced plans to build a pier in Gaza for humanitarian aid; however, few details have been provided for the construction and distribution.

• As we pass the two-year mark of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Russia continues to make further gains in the east, forcing the Ukrainian army onto the defensive. Ukraine’s munitions stockpiles continue to dwindle, while US funding for Ukraine remains murky. In the absence of further aid, Ukraine faces a serious risk of running out of various forms of ammunition. 

Download the Q2 edition of our Washington Newsletter.