Digital ministers for the Group of Seven (G7) countries have agreed on the adoption of "risk-based" regulations for AI .
The government officials said any regulations should be based on democratic values and maintain "an open and enabling environment" for AI development in their respective countries.
- During a two-day meeting in Japan, the ministers agreed to promote responsible AI use, encourage talks on AIrisk assessment, and support an international deal that would accelerate data flows across borders.
- They acknowledged that "policy instruments" to pursue a common aim of trustworthy AI could differ across G7 nations.
- The digital ministers oversee technology issues for each of the G7 advanced nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S.
- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to discuss AI rules with global leaders during the annual G7 Summit in late May.
- European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager welcomed the G7 agreement and said it showed that the EU is not alone in its efforts to regulate AI .
- On Sunday, Vestager said she expects the EU to finalize an agreement this year on its AI Act, which would be the world's first comprehensive legislation governing AI.