Search for:
Cybersecurity, Data and Tech

Singapore: Singapore and the European Union agree to strengthen collaboration on AI safety

By , , , and 3 Mins Read

In brief

Singapore and the European Union (EU) have formalized their collaboration on Artificial Intelligence (AI) safety with the establishment of a new Administrative Arrangement (AA). This arrangement aims to enhance cooperation in promoting technological innovation and the development and responsible use of safe, trustworthy, and human-centric AI. The AA was signed by Mr Joseph Leong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) of Singapore, and Mr Roberto Viola, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission (“DG CONNECT”).

In more detail

Under the AA, Singapore and the EU will establish a framework for cooperation between Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the Digital Trust Centre (DTC) at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) which has been designated as Singapore’s AI Safety Institute; DG CONNECT and the EU AI Office. The goal is to drive AI safety research; strengthen our understanding of evaluations of advanced AI; and support best practices and protocols in safe and trustworthy AI. According to MDDI’s press release, the AA sets out the following key areas of cooperation to address the safety of general purpose AI models:

  1. Information exchange: Sharing expertise of information and best practices on aspects of AI safety, including relevant technologies, governance frameworks, technical tools and evaluations, and research and development, for the purpose of advancing AI safety. These may include expert information exchange with related partners, such as institutes of higher learning, think-tanks, enterprises, government agencies, or other ecosystem stakeholders.
  2. Joint testing and evaluations: Conducting assessments of general-purpose AI models to evaluate their capabilities, limitations, and risks, including challenges arising from deployment.
  3. Development of tools and benchmarks: Creating frameworks to evaluate capabilities, limitations, and risks associated with general-purpose AI models.
  4. Standardisation activities: For general-purpose AI.
  5. AI safety research: Advancing joint research initiatives to explore new approaches to promote safer AI systems and manage and mitigate risks.
  6. Insights on emerging trends: Sharing perspectives on technological developments in the field of AI to better address evolving challenges.

For further information, see the MDDI’s press release.

Key takeaways

The new AA between Singapore and the EU is a significant step towards advancing the safety and reliability of AI technologies, and is consistent with Singapore’s whole of government national AI strategy to deepen the responsible, sustainable and safe use of AI in Singapore. It also follows the issuance of various guidelines and recommendations on AI by various government agencies, including the following:  

* * * * *

For further information and to discuss what this development might mean for you, please get in touch with your usual Baker McKenzie contact.

LOGO_Wong&Leow_Singapore

© 2024 Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow. All rights reserved. Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow is incorporated with limited liability and is a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a global law firm with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a “principal” means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm. Similarly, reference to an “office” means an office of any such law firm. This may qualify as “Attorney Advertising” requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Categories:
Tags:
Author

Andy Leck is the head of the Intellectual Property and Technology (IPTech) Practice Group and a member of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in Singapore. He is a core member of Baker McKenzie's regional IP practice and also leads the Myanmar IP Practice Group. Andy is recognised by reputable global industry and legal publications as a leader in his field. He was named on "The A-List: Singapore's Top 100 lawyers" by Asia Business Law Journal 2018. In addition, Chambers Asia Pacific notes that Andy is "a well-known IP practitioner who is highlighted for his record of handling major trade mark litigation, as well as commercial exploitation of IP rights in the media and technology sectors. He's been in the industry for a long time and has always been held in high regard. He is known to be very fair and is someone you would like to be in the trenches with you during negotiations." Furthermore, Asian Legal Business acknowledges Andy as a leading practitioner in his field and notes that he “always gives good, quick advice, [is] client-focused and has strong technical knowledge for his areas of practice.” Andy was appointed by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as an IP Adjudicator to hear disputes at IPOS for a two-year term from April 2021. He has been an appointed member of the Singapore Copyright Tribunal since May 2010 and a mediator with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. He is also appointed as a Notary Public & Commissioner for Oaths in Singapore. He previously served on the International Trademark Association’s Board of Directors and was a member of the executive committee.

Author

Ren Jun Lim is a principal with Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. He represents local and international clients in both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters. He also advises on a full range of healthcare, as well as consumer goods-related legal and regulatory issues. Ren Jun co-leads Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow's Healthcare as well as Consumer Goods & Retail industry groups. He sits on the Law Society of Singapore IP Committee and on the Executive Committee of the Association of Information Security Professionals. He is also a member of the Vaccines Working Group, Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, a member of the International Trademark Association, as well as a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Association. Ren Jun is ranked in the Silver tier for Individuals: Enforcement and Litigation and Individuals: Prosecution and Strategy, and a recommended lawyer for Individuals: Transactions by WTR 1000, 2020. He is also listed in Asia IP's Best 50 IP Expert, 2020, recognised as a Rising Star by Managing IP: IP Stars, 2019 and one of Singapore's 70 most influential lawyers aged 40 and under by Singapore Business Review, 2016. Ren Jun was acknowledged by WTR 1000 as a "trademark connoisseur who boasts supplementary knowledge of regulatory issues in the consumer products industry." He was also commended by clients for being "very responsive to enquiries and with a keen eye for detail, he is extremely hands-on. His meticulous and in-depth approach to strategising is key to the excellent outcomes we enjoy."

Author

Ken Chia is a member of the Firm’s IP Tech, International Commercial & Trade and Competition Practice Groups. He is regularly ranked as a leading TMT and competition lawyer by top legal directories, including Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Ken is an IAPP Certified International Privacy Professional (FIP, CIPP(A), CIPT, CIPM) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.

Author

Sanil is a local principal in the Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group in Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. Sanil is qualified in both Singapore and Australia, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/A) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Sanil is recognized as a Rising Star by both Legal 500 Asia Pacific in the Intellectual Property: Local Firms category as well as by IP Stars for his advisory work in the IP space. Sanil is also recommended by World Trademark Review 1000 for IP enforcement, litigation, prosecution and strategy.

Author

Daryl Seetoh is a local principal in the Intellectual Property & Technology (IPTech) practice group at Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. He is a qualified lawyer in Singapore, and is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for Asia (CIPP/Asia), an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and a Certified Information Privacy Professional for Europe (CIPP/E). Daryl has previously worked at Baker McKenzie’s San Francisco office and has also been seconded to financial institution and technology multinational clients.

Related Posts