The heads of the Group of Seven (G7) major powers said in a joint statement Friday that they will launch an action plan to deal with the positive and negative impacts of artificial intelligence on employment,according to Jiji Press.

 

In the statement, adopted at their meeting in Puglia, southern Italy, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union welcomed the support from countries outside the G-7 forum for the Hiroshima AI Process, an international rulemaking framework for generative AI led by Tokyo, saying that they recognize the importance of advancing the framework's outcomes.

 

The Hiroshima AI Process was established at last year's G-7 summit, which was chaired by Japan. Over 50 countries and regions have signed onto the framework. 

 

The G7 ministers reached a landmark consensus in Verona, Italy on the critical global debate of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

 

Under the scope ‘Digital Development – Growing Together’, G7 countries acknowledged the need to work in partnership with developing countries to strengthen local AI digital ecosystems, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

 

It says that by collaborating with the UNDP, the Italian G7 Presidency championed the need for new multi-stakeholder partnerships to foster local impact in developing countries. Key areas include democratising computing power, developing open and secure data models, and strengthening capacities to advance AI for sustainable development. 

 

These seek to ensure that access to AI is equitable, inclusive and responsible, thereby supporting safe, secure and trustworthy development and deployment.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in the G-7 leaders' discussions Friday that he hopes to continue cooperation on the subject.

 

Under this year's G-7 chair, Italy, discussions have centered on the potential benefits of AI to labor and the risk of the technology depriving people of work.

 

The G-7 leaders said in the statement that they will "work to ensure that AI enables increased productivity, quality jobs and decent work," and that they will strengthen labor market policies, including in light of tackling AI's negative effects.