Last week, the UK held the first global summit on artificial intelligence. 27 countries, in addition to the EU, participated in the meeting. There were also a number of technology leaders such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altmann, X CEO Elon Musk and the head of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis. US vice-president Kamala Harris and head of the European Commission Ursula van der Leyen were also present. But Norway was not invited. No other Nordic countries were on the participant list either. – I think it’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing because we have a goal in Norway to be relevant in this field, says KI professor and head of department Marija Slavkovik at the University of Bergen (UiB). SURPRISED: Professor Marija Slavkovik at UiB says she was surprised when she discovered that neither Norway nor any of the other Nordic countries were on the participant list for the summit in Great Britain. Photo: Ragnar Rørnes; Bergen Public Library Slavkovik believes that Norway has a long way to go if we are to come close to reaching this goal. – People in Norwegian society have high technological competence and already use a lot of AI technology. In addition, I believe that we have both the capacity and the knowledge to become a leader when it comes to developing AI services, says the professor. The topic of the meeting was security challenges related to KI. Slavkovik believes that there is a risk that Norwegian interests will be left out when international regulation is designed. PRESENT: US Vice President Kamala Harris. Photo: AFP – It would be a shame if we become a developing country within KI The professor is supported by KI researcher Inga Strümke. – How are we going to ensure that the Norwegian interests are represented when we are not even represented in international negotiations on regulation? There is no one else who will look after our interests, says Strümke. She points out that the other Nordic countries, with the exception of Iceland, take part in such decision-making processes because they are members of the EU. X IN PLACE: Among the guests of honor Rishi Sunak has invited is X boss Elon Musk. Photo: AFP Strümke thinks it is a shame that Norway was not invited, but believes we have a lot to do if we are to make our mark in the field internationally. – We have strong professional environments for artificial intelligence in Norway. Nevertheless, I cannot emphasize enough how far behind we are when it comes to regulation and supervision. It would be a real shame if we became a developing country in KI, she says. Declaration on AI security During the summit, the UK was joined by the EU and the 27 countries that participated in signing a declaration that will strengthen global cooperation on security related to AI. The main points of the declaration are to uncover risks from artificial intelligence, increase scientific understanding and build policies to limit risks. Both China and the United States are among the countries that have signed the declaration. It has been named the Bletchley Declaration because the summit was held at Bletchley Park, north of London – the site that was once home to codebreakers during the Second World War. HISTORICAL SETTINGS: It is no coincidence that the summit was added to Bletchley Park. Much of the most important code-breaking during World War II was done right here. Among them was Alan Turing. Photo: AP – Norway has an obvious potential for improvement here, says Alex Moltzau. He is a political advisor in NORA.ai, a body that brings together several researchers and organizations working with artificial intelligence in Norway. – If we want social democratic values to be reflected in international AI regulation, we must make our mark more strongly and stake out a common course, Moltzau continues. KI divide Morten Goodwin, professor of KI at the University of Agder (UiA), believes it is a big problem that only a few states were included at the British summit. – Yes, it is a huge problem. It is important to have different backgrounds. During the meeting, an agreement was also reached which gives certain states the opportunity to test new AI technology before it is launched on the market. This can create challenges, says Goodwin. – It is a challenge that some are allowed to test and give feedback and others are not. Then it will be their view of what is safe and correct that will quickly become applicable, he says. – Preoccupied with putting Norway on the map Digitization and Administration Minister Karianne Tung tells news that only certain countries, in addition to the European Commission, were invited to the summit. – At the same time as there was a summit meeting in Great Britain, there was the Nordic Council here in Oslo. There, all the Nordic Prime Ministers agreed to initiate intensified work to investigate how AI can affect democracy. – Norway already works closely at international forums where regulation and responsible use of AI are discussed. It is work that I want to strengthen, precisely because artificial intelligence and the development of new technology cross borders. Both when it comes to sectors and national borders. We have to see this in context, says Tung. NOT INVITED: Norway’s digitization minister Karianne Tung (Ap) did not receive an invitation to the summit on artificial intelligence. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – Critics believe that Norway has not been invited to the summit because we are lagging behind. What do you think about it? – None of the Nordic countries were invited. At the same time, the establishment of the Ministry of Digitalization and Administration is an acknowledgment that we need more power, coordination and political management of the digitalization policy, and I am keen to put Norway on the map in further development. The minister is not as critical of the agreement on testing new AI technology as Goodwin is. – The more such models are tested, the more positive it is. Especially when it comes from leading environments within KI. It will be positive for us, and it will lead to more transparency and research on the models. At the same time, we are working to ensure that the models fit both the Norwegian language and culture in parallel, so that it can be the best possible tool for us here at home.
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