CEO of OpenAI is 'optimistic' about international AI cooperation

The CEO of OpenAI stated that after visiting several capitals, he is "quite optimistic" about the prospects for international cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI).

The startup's public face, which is backed by Microsoft Corp., has been on a whirlwind tour in an effort to take advantage of interest in generative AI and have a say in how the emerging technology is regulated.

Sam Altman told students in Tokyo that he had entered the trip with doubts about whether international cooperation to lower existential risk could be achieved in the near future. He was, however, ending the trip with a strong sense of confidence that we could succeed.

The use of generative AI, which can generate text and images and is inspiring both excitement and fear about its potential to reshape a wide range of industries, is being regulated by regulators who are scrambling to adapt current rules and create new guidelines.

The European Union is proceeding with its draft AI Act, which is anticipated to become law this year, whereas the United States is leaning towards amending current laws rather than enacting new ones to address AI.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a visit to Japan in April, Altman revealed that he was thinking about setting up shop there.

Without going into further detail, Altman said on Monday that "all of the conversations have progressed quite well."

Even as its major manufacturing players invest in automation technology, Japan is viewed as a laggard in the kinds of AI services currently inspiring consumer enthusiasm.