International Cooperation & Safety Agreements

Despite the competitive dynamics, there's growing recognition that some aspects of AI governance require international cooperation. The AI Safety Summits - starting with Bletchley Park in 2023, followed by Seoul and Paris - brought together governments, companies, and researchers to discuss frontier AI risks. The resulting declarations and commitments are modest but represent a starting point. The OECD AI Principles, the G7 Hiroshima Process, and the UN's advisory work on AI governance are all attempts to build common ground. The challenge is bridging fundamentally different views on how AI should be governed. Western democracies tend to emphasise individual rights and market-driven innovation. China prioritises state control and social stability. Many countries in the Global South are focused on ensuring they benefit from AI rather than being subjects of it. Binding international agreements on AI remain elusive - the technology moves faster than diplomacy, and enforcement across borders is difficult. For businesses, international cooperation efforts matter because they signal the direction of travel for regulation and may eventually produce binding commitments. Engaging with these processes, directly or through industry bodies, gives you a voice in shaping rules that will affect your operations.