Singapore: Singapore and EU agree

in short

Singapore and the European Union (EU) have formalized cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) safety through the establishment of a new Administrative Arrangement (AA). This arrangement aims to strengthen cooperation and promote technological innovation and the development and responsible use of safe, trustworthy and human-centered artificial intelligence. The agreement was signed by Mr Joseph Leong, Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), and Mr Roberto Viola, Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (“Dangerous goods connection“).

Under the AA, Singapore and the EU will establish a cooperation framework between the Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Digital Trust Center (DTC) (designated as the Singapore AI Security Institute); DG CONNECT and EU Artificial Intelligence Office. The goals are to advance AI safety research; enhance our understanding of advanced AI assessment; and support best practices and protocols for safe and reliable AI. According to a press release from MDDI, AA has developed the following key areas of collaboration to address the security of general artificial intelligence models:

1. Information exchange: Share information and best practices in AI security, including relevant technologies, governance frameworks, technical tools and assessments, and research and development to advance AI security. This may include expert information exchange with relevant partners such as universities, think tanks, businesses, government agencies or other ecosystem stakeholders.
2. Joint testing and evaluation: Conduct an evaluation of general artificial intelligence models to assess their capabilities, limitations, and risks, including challenges posed by deployment.
3. Development of tools and benchmarks: Create a framework to evaluate the capabilities, limitations, and risks associated with general artificial intelligence models.
4. Standardization activities: For general artificial intelligence.
5. Artificial Intelligence Security Research: Advance joint research programs to explore new ways to promote safer AI systems and manage and mitigate risks.
6. Insights on emerging trends: Share perspectives on technological developments in the field of artificial intelligence to better address ever-changing challenges.

For more information, see MDDI’s press release.

The new AA between Singapore and the EU is an important step towards improving the safety and reliability of AI technology and is in line with the Singapore government’s overall national AI strategy to deepen Singapore’s responsible, sustainable and safe use of AI. . It also follows various guidance and recommendations on artificial intelligence issued by various government agencies, including the following:

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To find out more and discuss what this development may mean for you, please get in touch with your usual Baker McKenzie contact.

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