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In an effort to remain competitive in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), Britain and the United States have announced the creation of a joint taskforce, backed by a $120 million investment. The aim of the taskforce is to promote collaboration between the two nations on AI research, development and deployment.
The taskforce was announced in a joint statement by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden, who both emphasised the importance of maintaining leadership in AI. It is essential that we work together to unlock the full potential of this technology, while ensuring that it is used ethically and responsibly."
The taskforce will be co-chaired by the UK's Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman, and the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Digital Economy, Claire McKenna. It will bring together experts from academia, industry and government to collaborate on AI research and development.
The $120 million investment will be split evenly between the two countries, and will be used to fund research projects, build infrastructure and support the development of AI talent.
In a speech announcing the taskforce, Warman said, "This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for the UK and the US to work together on AI, which is one of the most important technologies of our time. By combining our expertise and resources, we can accelerate the development of AI and ensure that it benefits everyone."
The announcement has been welcomed by industry leaders and experts, who have emphasised the importance of collaboration between countries in the development of AI.
Nick Jennings, Vice-Provost for Research and Enterprise at Imperial College London, said, "AI is a global technology, and it requires global collaboration to ensure that it is developed in a way beneficial to society. This taskforce is an important step towards achieving that."
The announcement comes as both the UK and the US are ramping up their efforts in AI. In the UK, the government recently announced a new AI strategy, which includes a £1 billion investment in the sector. Meanwhile, the US government has announced plans to double its AI research budget to $2 billion by 2023.
The joint task force is seen as a way to ensure that the two countries can leverage their respective strengths in AI to remain at the forefront of the field. The UK is seen as a leader in AI research, with a strong academic community and a thriving start-up ecosystem. The US, meanwhile, is home to some of the world's largest tech companies, which are driving much of the innovation in the sector.
The taskforce will focus on a number of key areas, including developing standards for ethical AI, promoting the use of AI in healthcare and education.
However, there are also concerns that the taskforce could deepen the existing inequality between developed and developing countries when it comes to AI. Many developing countries lack the resources and expertise to compete in the field, and there are fears that a focus on collaboration between developed nations could exacerbate this gap.
In response, the joint statement emphasized the importance of international collaboration, saying, "We recognize that AI is a global technology, and we are committed to working with other countries to ensure that it is developed in a way that benefits everyone."
Overall, the creation of the joint taskforce represents a major step forward in the development of AI, and a recognition of the importance of international collaboration in the sector. With both the UK and the US committing significant resources to the initiative, it is likely to have a major impact on the future of AI research and development.
