In more detail
The new MoC builds on the longstanding digital partnership between Singapore and the UK, which was formalized through the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA) that took effect in 2022. Since then, both countries have continued to collaborate on digital and cybersecurity matters, including the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) under the UKSDEA. These MoUs cover various areas such as Digital Trade Facilitation, Digital Identities, Cyber Security, Data Cooperation and Emerging Technologies.
The latest agreement on AI aligns with the commitments made by Singapore and the UK at the AI Safety Summit held in the UK in November 2023 and the objectives of the international network of AI Safety Institutes to align their work on research, standards, and testing.
The MoC captures the active exchanges between Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the Digital Trust Centre (DTC) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the UK Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and the UK AI Safety Institute on research collaboration, international standards development, and safety testing. The MoC affirms the importance of international collaboration to advance the science of AI safety and maps out pathways for deeper cooperation on AI safety, including frameworks around information sharing and intellectual property rights.
As announced by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), the new MoC will strengthen cooperation between the AI Safety Institutes (AISIs) of both countries. Key areas of collaboration include:
- AI Safety Research: Enhancing joint efforts to advance the science of AI safety, focusing on developing safer AI systems and risk management.
- Global Norms: Collaborating on international AI safety standards and protocols, including through possible cooperation with the Network of AI Safety Institutes, ensuring a global approach to AI risk mitigation.
- Information Sharing: Expanding knowledge exchange between the two countries' AI Safety Institutes to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed in ways that are trustworthy and safe for global use.
- Comprehensive AI Testing: Joint development of safety testing frameworks that provide robust evaluations throughout the AI lifecycle.
For further information, see the MDDI's press release.
Key takeaways
The new MoC is a significant step towards advancing the safe and reliable use of AI technologies. It underscores the importance of international collaboration in advancing AI safety and governance, and it builds on the strong digital partnership between the Singapore and the UK.
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For further information and to discuss what this development might mean for you, please get in touch with your usual Baker McKenzie contact.
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