The emergence and diffusion of general-purpose technologies has been an inherent feature of human history. Yet the challenge of effectively governing and regulating them to ensure they benefit humanity remains largely unresolved. Paradoxically, when a technology is early in its life cycle, it can be regulated, but we lack sufficient understanding of its impacts to know what, or how, to regulate; later, once we understand the need for regulation, the technology is so entrenched that it becomes difficult to do so.
This dilemma is as true as ever with artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence delivers all of the traits of a general-purpose technology at an unprecedented level. Its pace of improvement delivers new model generations in months, with capabilities compounding rapidly. Its capacity to generate and accelerate further invention places it at the heart of the next innovation revolution. And because it is, fundamentally, a new form of intelligence, its potential pervasiveness is difficult to overstate. The fact that artificial intelligence is still deemed an emerging technology, despite already being so pervasive, reflects its unprecedented pace of development and the inability for the human psyche to keep up.
Yet as AI emerges as perhaps the most profound technological revolution to date, governments remain responsible for ensuring that its progress serves the interests of their citizens. This report explores how the UK Government is currently navigating this mission.
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