EU is debating whether to send representatives to Britain's AI summit, a spokesperson confirmed.

As the bloc approaches completion of comprehensive AI legislation, the first of its kind globally, a spokesperson for the European Union told Reuters that the bloc is debating whether to send representatives to Britain's forthcoming artificial intelligence safety summit.

 

This November's summit, which will bring together governments, tech companies, and academics to discuss the risks posed by technology, is scheduled to be hosted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

But the invitee list has been kept under wraps, with some companies declining to say whether they have been invited.

European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova has received a formal invitation to the summit, the spokesperson said, adding: "We are now reflecting on potential EU participation."

AI has seen rapid growth in investment and consumer popularity since the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot.

The European Union is about to introduce its own AI Act, the first of its kind in history, while Sunak wants to establish Britain as the global leader in regulating the quickly advancing technology.

Organisations that use AI systems that the bloc deems high risk are expected to be required to log their activities, complete thorough risk assessments, and provide authorities with some internal data as a result of the new regulations.

However, the Financial Times reported that British government officials favour a less "draconian" approach to AI regulation than the EU.

Tech expert Matt Clifford and former senior diplomat Jonathan Black have been appointed to lead preparations for the summit. Last month, Clifford told Reuters he hoped the summit would set the tone for future international debates on AI regulation.

While a number of world leaders, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, are expected to attend the summit, it largely remains unknown who else has been invited -- or who has accepted an invitation.

The British government was recently forced to defend its decision to invite China to the summit.

The country's finance minister Jeremy Hunt told Politico: "If you're trying to create structures that make AI something that overall is a net benefit to humanity, then you can’t just ignore the second-biggest economy in the world."