The Biden administration announced on Wednesday its intention to host a global summit focused on artificial intelligence safety, amid ongoing challenges in Congress regarding the regulation of this technology.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will lead the inaugural meeting of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes in San Francisco on November 20-21, aiming to foster international collaboration for the responsible and secure advancement of artificial intelligence.

The network comprises members from Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The rise of generative AI, capable of producing text, images, and videos from open-ended prompts, has generated both enthusiasm and concerns about its potential to disrupt employment, influence elections, and pose significant risks to humanity.

Raimondo initially unveiled the International Network of AI Safety Institutes during the AI Seoul Summit in May, where participating nations committed to prioritizing safety, innovation, and inclusivity in AI development. The upcoming San Francisco meeting aims to initiate technical collaboration in preparation for the AI Action Summit scheduled in Paris for February.

Raimondo emphasized the goal of fostering “close, thoughtful coordination with our allies and like-minded partners.” She further stated, “We aim for the principles governing AI to be founded on safety, security, and trust.”

The upcoming meeting in San Francisco will bring together technical experts from each member’s AI safety institute or equivalent government-supported scientific organization to identify key focus areas and promote global collaboration and knowledge exchange regarding AI safety.

Recently, the Commerce Department announced a proposal to implement stringent reporting requirements for advanced AI developers and cloud computing providers to ensure the safety of these technologies and their resilience against cyber threats.

This regulatory initiative arises amid a standstill in legislative efforts concerning AI in Congress. In October 2023, President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating that developers of AI systems that could pose risks to U.S. national security, the economy, or public health and safety must submit the results of their safety assessments to the U.S. government prior to public release.