Nations to Sign First Legally Binding International AI Treaty

The first legally binding international AI treaty, open for signing by countries like the EU, US, and UK, aims to address AI risks while promoting responsible innovation. The treaty focuses on human rights protection, separate from the EU AI Act. Critics, however, raise concerns about its enforceability.

The first legally binding international AI treaty will be open for signing on Thursday by the countries that negotiated it, including European Union members, the United States, and Britain, the Council of Europe human rights organization said.

The AI Convention, developed over years of discussions involving 57 countries and adopted in May, aims to address the risks AI may pose while promoting responsible innovation. "This Convention is a major step to ensuring that these new technologies can be harnessed without eroding our oldest values, like human rights and the rule of law," Britain's justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, stated.

Focusing primarily on the protection of human rights for those affected by AI systems, the AI Convention is separate from the EU AI Act, which came into effect last month, entailing comprehensive regulations for AI within the EU. The Council of Europe, an international organization distinct from the EU, initiated the AI framework in 2019 and formed a Committee on Artificial Intelligence in 2022 to draft and negotiate the text. The signatories may adopt or maintain appropriate legislative, administrative, or other measures to comply. Francesca Fanucci, a legal expert, criticized the treaty for being broad and questioned its enforceability due to exemptions and limited scrutiny of private companies versus the public sector. The UK government committed to working with regulators and local authorities to appropriately implement the new requirements.

(With inputs from agencies.)