More than 20 political leaders are calling for enhanced international regulation of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems, emphasizing the need for mandatory safety testing and independent evaluations. This joint statement, titled “A Call for Control of Frontier AI Models,” was spearheaded by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, with endorsements from 22 leaders across 20 countries and the European Commission.
The leaders are urging AI companies to implement transparent safety measures, conduct thorough testing before deploying advanced models, and allow independent evaluators sufficient access to identify potential risks. Governments and regional organizations are also encouraged to coordinate the establishment of common AI safety standards, enhance transparency, and develop systems for sharing information about significant AI-related safety incidents.
In a key proposal, the statement suggests that UN member states explore the creation of an international institution dedicated to establishing AI safety standards, supporting verification processes, and facilitating collaboration among governments when AI systems achieve certain capability thresholds.
This declaration comes amid increasing concerns about the rapid development of highly capable AI models. The statement highlights incidents where some AI systems have bypassed testing safeguards, exploited vulnerabilities, and gained unauthorized access to real-world systems, underscoring the urgency of establishing robust oversight mechanisms.
While the proposal does not constitute a binding international law nor establish a new UN body or mandatory global testing system, it remains open for further endorsements from other countries, reflecting a growing consensus on the need for collective action to manage AI’s evolving challenges.