New White Paper Explores How International Institutions Could Manage the Impact of Advanced AI

There is a growing awareness of the global impact of advanced artificial intelligence (AI), which has prompted discussions about the need for international governance structures. These structures can help us manage the opportunities and mitigate the risks involved in AI development.

Many discussions have compared AI to other fields like civil aviation, particle physics, and nuclear technology. However, AI is unique and requires its own approach to governance.

The Importance of International Institutions

In order to ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed evenly and reach underrepresented communities, international collaborations are needed. These collaborations can encourage the development of AI systems and applications that address the specific needs of underserved communities.

Furthermore, international efforts are necessary to manage the risks associated with powerful AI capabilities. Without proper safeguards, these capabilities can be misused and cause harm. International and multi-stakeholder institutions can help establish protocols that minimize these risks and set international standards for identifying and treating models with dangerous capabilities.

Four Potential Institutional Models

The paper explores four institutional models that could support global coordination and governance functions:

• An intergovernmental Commission on Frontier AI that builds consensus on AI opportunities and risks.
• An intergovernmental or multi-stakeholder Advanced AI Governance Organization that sets governance norms and standards.
• A Frontier AI Collaborative that promotes access to AI as an international public-private partnership.
• An AI Safety Project that brings together leading researchers and resources for AI safety research.

Operational Challenges

There are still many open questions and challenges to implementing these institutional models. Scientific uncertainties and limited research on advanced AI make it difficult for a Commission on Advanced AI to effectively address the risks.

An Advanced AI Governance Organization may struggle to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape and face difficulties in coordinating international efforts.

The Frontier AI Collaborative may face obstacles in optimizing its impact and balancing the sharing of AI benefits with preventing the proliferation of dangerous systems.

The AI Safety Project needs to carefully consider the best approach to safety research and secure adequate access to AI models for research.

Given the immense opportunities and challenges of AI, more discussions are needed to determine the role of international institutions in AI governance and coordination.

We hope that this research stimulates conversations on how to ensure advanced AI is developed for the benefit of humanity.

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