G7 leaders reach consensus on AI adoption, key minerals, but disagree with Ukraine
G7 leaders reached an agreement on the “human-centered approach” adopted by AI to fight transnational oppression and create standards-based markets for key minerals, but did not allow Russia to consider its war in the Middle East or secure a ceasefire in Ukraine’s war.
Seven world leaders held a summit in Alberta on Tuesday, with no common view, which was the standard after the gatherings in the past.
Instead, the summit generated a series of joint statements on issues ranging from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to immigration smuggling and transnational repression.
A wider signatories, including Australia, India and South Korea, are working to invest in responsible key mineral projects.
Australia, India, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa also signed a wildfire charter with the G7, which calls for cooperation to prevent, fight and restore devastating fires.
G7 leaders issued a brief statement on Monday night calling for continued fighting between Israel and Iran to relegate to the Middle East hostilities.
There is no final agreement on the Ukrainian war, nor is there a collective effort to impose a ceasefire negotiation on Moscow. Canada and other allies announced new Russian sanctions and aid to Ukraine on Tuesday, but the United States did not follow suit.
U.S. President Donald Trump left the summit early in response to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. “We did everything I had to do on the G7,” he told reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump agreed to reach a new economic and security agreement with the United States in Canada, the two leaders said after meeting.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Carney fulfilled his mission as G7 host to maintain unity of multilateral organizations.
“We shouldn't ask the President of Canada to solve every problem on the planet now, which is unfair. But he's uniting the team.” Macron will host the G7 next year.
“People-centered” artificial intelligence
The AI statement has by far been the most detailed of the G7 leaders.
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It promises to adopt a “human-centered approach” to adopt a rapidly moving technology “develop and prosper, benefit from society and meet global challenges”, especially to increase economic efficiency and national security.
While the statement said that the G7 leaders acknowledge the risks posed by AI to work safety, business models and energy security, it said that the government “must capture the potential of AI in our public sector to be more efficient and better serve our public” and help companies do the same to “scalate” their businesses.
Leaders said they will launch an AI adoption roadmap to establish past G7 ministerial agreements to adopt AI “in the world of work” and to build a resilient future workforce by preparing workers for AI-driven transitions, including “developing voluntary compilation best practices.”
It is not to say how it plans to prevent mass unemployment from some AI creators and innovators warning of, which could be released by widespread, unregulated adoption.
The statement said that the G7 countries will work to address the large amount of AI energy consumption and increase AI access in developing countries.
“We recognize that increased AI adoption will put increasing pressure on our energy grid, create negative externalities and have an impact on energy security, resilience and affordability,” the statement said.
“At the same time, AI can be leveraged to promote energy innovation and enhance the resilience and reliability of our energy systems.”
Member States also heard concerns from partners in emerging markets and developing countries about the challenges facing the establishment of a resilient AI ecosystem, including undermining and excluding the risks of today's technological revolution, the statement said. ”
It said Canada, which holds the G7 presidency this year, will host a series of “rapid solutions labs” to “develop innovative and scalable solutions for the barriers we face when adopting AI in the public sector.”
The mission of the government minister is to explore the “strategic investment” adopted by Canada in a transformative way to adopt public sector AI.
Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced another deal last weekend before the summit, just before the summit, after Carney in Ottawa headed to Kananaskis.
The seven countries have also released a “common vision” for emerging quantum technologies and are committed to promoting “public and private investment in quantum science and technology.”
Wildfire prevention, immigration smuggling has also been resolved
A protocol called Kananaskis Wildfire Charter outlines steps in all G7 countries and five non-G7 members intend to conduct wildfire prevention, research collaboration and community reconstruction efforts.
At last year's summit, leaders agreed to prevent and manage the negative effects of wildfires, but did not outline specific plans to do so and promised to reverse deforestation by 2030.
The statement comes as another devastating wildfire season in Canada, nearly a year after wildfires crossed Jasper, 250 kilometers from Jasper, Alberta Town, which the leaders met.
G7 leaders signed a statement pledging to resolve immigration smuggling. The statement said the G7 “will explore a potential exploitation of criminals involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking operations from countries radiating these activities.”
Another statement announced that leaders “are deeply concerned about the reporting of transnational repression”, which was defined in the statement as a radical form of foreign intervention in which states or their agents attempt to intimidate, harass, hurt or coerce people outside their borders.
The statement condemns all forms of transnational repression, which may include a range of activities ranging from assassination to online surveillance.
It requires member states to report reports on transnational repression in the public report of the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism and develop an EA framework to cooperate in response to such activities.
– Documents with Canadian Press
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