US, Britain, EU sign world's first AI treaty

The United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom have taken a landmark step by signing the first legally binding international treaty on artificial intelligence (AI) during a Council of Europe conference held in Vilnius, Lithuania on Thursday.

This ground-breaking agreement, known as the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, marks a significant milestone in global efforts to regulate AI technologies, underlining the need to balance innovation with the protection of human rights and democratic values.

The treaty focuses on addressing potential risks posed by AI technologies while promoting responsible innovation. The Council of Europe, a Strasbourg-based international organisation established in 1949, spearheaded the initiative to ensure that AI systems align with fundamental human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.