Rishi Sunak insisted it was ‘absolutely the right thing’ to invite Beijing to the AI summit – PETER NICHOLLS/GETTY IMAGES
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The Chinese delegation will attend Rishi Sunak’s Artificial Intelligence summit in the UK, despite opposition from Tory critics. The UK government has confirmed that China, along with 26 other nations, will participate in the summit, which aims to address the risks posed by emerging AI technology.
While China’s participation was anticipated, the government had not received a definitive response from Beijing until recently. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) revealed that China, along with other countries, leading tech companies, and universities, will join the event.
Israel’s attendance has also been confirmed, despite concerns that the Israeli Prime Minister’s presence might be distracting due to ongoing conflicts. Other participating countries include Ukraine, India, the US, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Turkey, and the UAE, as well as all G7 members.
Some prominent world leaders, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and US President Joe Biden, will not attend, with Vice President Kamala Harris representing the US.
Although the list from DSIT does not specify who will represent each nation, it is understood that Wu Zhaohui, a vice-minister of science and technology, is lined up to represent China. The Chinese Academy of Sciences will also have representatives at the summit.
The Chinese delegation’s participation has been a topic of controversy, with concerns raised about Wu Zhaohui’s possible involvement in human rights issues, particularly Uyghur abuses in Xinjiang. Wu’s connection with a state-run paramilitary group has drawn attention, but the UK government maintains that including China is the right decision.
The summit aims to address potential risks associated with AI technology, including threats to life through the deployment of autonomous weapons systems and the proliferation of deepfakes and disinformation, which can undermine democracy.
