Queen Mary University of London joins US AI Safety Consortium

AI event in the Octagon at Queen Mary

Queen Mary is proud to announce its participation in the U.S. Department of Commerce's newly formed AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI. Established by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on February 8, 2024, AISIC brings together AI creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations to meet this mission.

"Just as Alvin Toffler described in 'Future Shock,' we're experiencing a period of rapid change with the rise of GenAI," says David Leslie, Digital Environment Research Institute (DERI)'s Professor of Ethics, Technology and Society. "This is putting immense pressure on our basic social norms and institutions. But instead of succumbing to AI doomsaying and anxieties about soulless robots taking over, we need to focus on ensuring equitable, trustworthy, and safe AI. We need open dialogue, robust regulations, and a commitment to ethical design, development and deployment. The US AI Safety Institute Consortium offers us an opportunity to build toward this, allowing us to shape AI responsibly and helping us navigate current outbreaks of future shock."

The consortium includes more than 200 member companies and organizations that are on the frontlines of developing and using AI systems, as well as the civil society and academic teams that are building the foundational understanding of how AI can and will transform our society. These entities represent the nation’s largest companies and its innovative startups; creators of the world’s most advanced AI systems and hardware; key members of civil society and the academic community; and representatives of professions with deep engagement in AI’s use today. The consortium also includes state and local governments, as well as non-profits. The consortium will also work with organizations from like-minded nations that have a key role to play in setting interoperable and effective safety around the world.

For more information on the Consortium please see here and the full list of consortium participants is available here.