Britain, on Monday, set principles to prevent a group of technology companies from controlling artificial intelligence models at the expense of consumers and companies, stressing the need for accountability and transparency.
Britain's antitrust regulator has launched a project to deepen oversight of rapidly developing technology, as the Competition and Markets Authority seeks to curb some of the potential negative consequences of artificial intelligence without stifling innovation like other authorities around the world.
The Competition and Markets Authority has established seven principles for regulating AI systems, based on a wide range of data sets that can be adapted to a variety of tasks.
These seven principles aim to standardize core models like ChatGPT by holding developers accountable, preventing big tech companies from restricting technology on their platforms, and discouraging anti-competitive behavior.
The Seven Principles of Artificial Intelligence from the Competition and Markets Authority:
- System developer responsibilities.
- Continuous and unlimited access to keyboard inputs.
- Sustainable diversification of economic models.
- Give companies plenty of choices.
- Flexibly switch between basic models.
- Transparency about risks and limits.
- Fair trade and without conflicts with competitors.
Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, said: “There is a risk that the use of this technology will develop in a way that harms consumer confidence or that too few people will use it.” NB. The entire economy, which is why we are proposing these new principles today. We have launched a comprehensive program to ensure that business models are developed and used in a way that enhances competition and protects consumers. "
The Competition and Markets Authority's proposed principles strengthen its approach to artificial intelligence as it gains new powers to oversee digital markets in the coming months. The proposals come six weeks before the UK is scheduled to host the Global AI Security Summit.
The Competition and Markets Authority is currently seeking the views of major AI developers such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as government regulators, academia and others.
The proposed principles also include access to key inputs, diversity of business models (both open and closed), and flexibility that allows companies to use multiple models.
In March, the UK decided to divide regulatory responsibility in the field of artificial intelligence between the Competition and Markets Authority and other authorities responsible for overseeing human rights, health and safety, rather than creating a new regulatory body.
The United States is exploring potential rules to regulate artificial intelligence and digital industries, and ministers from the Group of Seven major economies agreed in April to adopt risk-based rules that would also protect the open environment.