A ‘global call for AI red lines’ sounds the alarm about the lack of international AI policy

The article discusses a "global call for AI red lines," which is an initiative signed by over 200 former heads of state, diplomats, Nobel laureates, AI leaders, and scientists. The goal of the initiative is to urge governments to reach an international political agreement on "red lines" for AI by the end of 2026, preventing large-scale, potentially irreversible risks before they happen. The initiative was led by the French Center for AI Safety (CeSIA), the Future Society, and UC Berkeley's Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence. It calls for the establishment of global consensus on what AI should never do, such as impersonating a human or self-replicating. While some regional AI red lines exist, such as the European Union's AI Act and an agreement between the US and China on keeping nuclear weapons under human control, there is currently no global consensus. The initiative suggests that voluntary pledges by AI companies are not enough, and an independent global institution with enforcement power is needed to define, monitor, and enforce the red lines. The article emphasizes that these red lines do not impede economic development or innovation, as they aim to ensure the safe development of AI without the risks of uncontrolled advanced AI systems.