WASHINGTON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has embarked on a two-day trip to Washington to advocate for the UK’s leading role in regulating artificial intelligence (AI) amidst concerns over its potential existential threat.
Sunak is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday at the White House, where he will reaffirm Britain’s unwavering support for Ukraine following the destruction of a major dam, which has resulted in devastating floods. Accusations have been exchanged between Russia and Ukraine regarding the responsibility for the explosion at the Kakhovka dam.
Talking to reporters aboard his plane from London, Sunak stated that any deliberate targeting of the dam would represent “the largest attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine since the start of the war” and would demonstrate the depths of Russian aggression. While the UK collaborates closely with the United States on various issues, including discussions on providing Ukraine with jet fighters and adopting a robust approach towards China, Sunak faces challenges in demonstrating the UK’s post-Brexit relevance in other areas.
The UK’s ambition to lead an international response on AI regulation has been emphasized by Matt Clifford, an advisor to Downing Street’s task force, who warned of the potential risk of AI systems eradicating humanity within two years. Clifford stressed the necessity of global regulation rather than national regulation.
Sunak aims to establish a future global AI regulator in London, citing Britain’s expertise and its thriving tech sector. However, Downing Street faces an uphill battle as the United States engages directly with the European Union on AI regulation, building on a commitment made by G7 leaders, including Sunak, in Japan last month.
Military Alliance Between UK and US within NATO
During his visit to Washington, Sunak announced cumulative US investment of over £14 billion ($17 billion) into Britain, although a portion of this amount has already been deployed. Highlighting the military alliance between the US and UK within NATO, Sunak emphasized the importance of their economic relationship in defense of Western democracy. Sunak seeks US support for UK carmakers, particularly in accessing critical minerals used in batteries, following the Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Biden administration, which offers substantial subsidies to companies with US operations.
Ukraine is expected to be a priority topic in Thursday’s talks, according to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who acknowledged Britain’s support for the pro-Western nation in its efforts to repel Russian aggression. Sunak paid tribute to fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, and later attended the UK-US Friendship Day event, where he watched a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Sunak aims to foster a closer relationship with President Biden compared to his controversial predecessors, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, particularly on issues like AI and trade. Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the US and Americas Program at the Chatham House think tank, commented that while the fundamentals of the UK-US relationship are strong, specific matters such as AI and trade may not see significant breakthroughs as Biden approaches a crucial election year.
