That’s big: “US, UK, and EU to sign AI standards treaty”

Turkey is not involved explicitly, but it is a member of the Council of Europe that developed the treaty…

Based on the search results, here are the key points about the US, UK, and EU signing an AI standards treaty:

1. The treaty is officially called the “Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law” (AI Convention)[8].

2. It is described as the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of AI systems is consistent with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law[5][8].

3. The treaty was signed on September 5, 2024, in Vilnius, Lithuania[5][11].

4. Signatories include the US, UK, EU, as well as other countries like Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Moldova, San Marino, and Israel[5][9].

5. The AI Convention provides a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems, promoting innovation while managing risks to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law[6][8].

6. It requires signatory states to adopt measures to ensure AI systems are not used to undermine democratic institutions and processes, and are used in accordance with human rights laws[8].

7. The treaty is distinct from the EU’s AI Act, as it allows non-EU countries to sign and covers both public and private sector use of AI[11].

8. It was developed over two years by the Council of Europe, involving 46 member states, the EU, and 11 non-member states[6][12].

9. The convention will enter into force three months after five signatories, including at least three Council of Europe member states, have ratified it[11].

10. While hailed as a landmark achievement, some critics have pointed out potential issues such as vague compliance mechanisms and variations in how different countries might implement the treaty[8].

This treaty represents a significant step towards global AI governance, focusing on protecting human rights and democratic values in the development and use of AI technologies.

Citations:
1. IJOEEC – Makale: Celal Hakan Kan
2. China Daily – US, UK, and EU Sign AI Standards Treaty
3. The Guardian – UK Signs First International AI Safeguards Treaty
4. CAIDP – Council of Europe AI Treaty
5. Anadolu Agency – EU, US, UK Sign First-Ever Global AI Treaty
6. Council of Europe – AI Convention: Human Rights, Democracy, and Rule of Law
7. Financial Times – AI Treaty Signed by Major Global Powers
8. Bird & Bird – UK Signs First Legally Binding International AI Treaty
9. DW – US, UK, EU Sign International AI Treaty
10. TechCrunch – US, UK, and EU Sign AI Safety Treaty
11. Euronews – International AI Treaty Signed by EU, UK, and US
12. Economic Times – US, Britain, EU to Sign AI Standards Agreement

The key differences between the AI Convention and the EU AI Act:

1. Scope and Reach:

– The AI Convention is an international treaty with potentially global reach, open to countries beyond Europe[1][6].
– The EU AI Act applies only to EU member states and focuses on regulating AI within the EU internal market[1][7].

1. Primary Focus:

– The AI Convention primarily emphasizes safeguarding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law for individuals impacted by AI systems[6][7].
– The EU AI Act encompasses comprehensive regulations on the development, deployment, and use of AI systems within the EU market[6][7].

1. Regulatory Approach:

– The AI Convention is principles-based and formulated in high-level commitments and open-ended terms[7].
– The EU AI Act provides more specific and detailed rules for AI development and use[5].

1. Enforcement:

– The AI Convention relies more on monitoring for compliance and does not specify penalties like fines[8].
– The EU AI Act includes specific enforcement mechanisms and substantial fines for non-compliance[5].

1. Application to Private Sector:

– The AI Convention primarily regulates public authorities but requires parties to address risks from private companies through either applying the same principles or “other appropriate measures”[7].
– The EU AI Act directly regulates both public and private sector AI use[5].

1. Implementation:

– The AI Convention serves as a policy framework and does not impose immediate compliance requirements[7].
– The EU AI Act sets specific timelines for compliance and implementation[5].

1. Development Process:

– The AI Convention was developed with input from a wider range of countries, including non-European nations like the US, Canada, and Japan[6][8].
– The EU AI Act was developed primarily within the EU legislative framework[2].

1. Legal Status:

– The AI Convention is an international treaty that requires ratification by signatories to become binding[1][6].
– The EU AI Act is EU legislation that will be directly applicable in EU member states once it comes into force[2][5].

These differences reflect the distinct nature and purposes of the two instruments, with the AI Convention aiming to establish global minimum standards for AI governance, while the EU AI Act provides a more detailed regulatory framework specific to the EU market.

Citations:
1. CAIDP – Council of Europe AI Treaty
2. European Commission – Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence
3. KPMG – Decoding the EU Artificial Intelligence Act
4. Stibbe – The EU Artificial Intelligence Act: Key Takeaways
5. IBM – EU AI Act Overview
6. China Daily – AI Governance and the Role of the AI Convention
7. Gibson Dunn – Council of Europe AI Framework on Human Rights, Democracy, and Rule of Law
8. Financial Times – AI Safety and Governance Treaty