The U.S. and the U.K. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on testing advanced AI models. The partnership, announced by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.K. Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, aims to align the scientific approaches of both nations and accelerate the development of robust evaluation suites for AI models, systems, and agents.
Under the agreement, the U.S. and U.K. AI Safety Institutes will work hand in hand, sharing information, cooperating closely, and even exploring personnel exchanges to tap into a collective pool of expertise. The institutes plan to develop a common approach to AI safety testing and perform at least one joint testing exercise on a publicly accessible model.
Secretary Raimondo emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, "AI is the defining technology of our generation. This partnership is going to accelerate both of our Institutes' work across the full spectrum of risks, whether to our national security or to our broader society." She added that the collaboration will enable the institutes to gain a better understanding of AI systems, conduct more robust evaluations, and issue more rigorous guidance.
Secretary Donelan echoed the sentiment, calling the agreement a "landmark moment" that deepens the enduring special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. She stressed the importance of working together to address the risks associated with AI and harness its enormous potential to improve lives.
The partnership comes at a crucial time as AI continues to develop rapidly, and both governments recognize the need for a shared approach to AI safety that can keep pace with the technology's emerging risks. The U.S. and U.K. have also committed to developing similar partnerships with other countries to promote AI safety globally.
The U.S.-U.K. partnership on AI safety testing is expected to play a crucial role in efforts by lawmakers and tech company executives to mitigate the risks posed by rapidly progressing AI systems. Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have already published detailed plans for how they expect safety tests to inform their future product development, and recent legislation in the E.U. and the U.S. requires companies developing powerful AI models to disclose the results of safety tests.
As the U.S. and U.K. strengthen their partnership on AI safety, they have also committed to sharing vital information about the capabilities and risks associated with AI models and systems, as well as fundamental technical research on AI safety and security. A collaborative effort will further encourage a common approach to AI safety testing, allowing researchers on both sides of the Atlantic—and around the world—to coalesce around a common scientific foundation.