Deputy Prime Minister declares Chinese delegates 'inappropriate' for key sessions at AI summit, emphasizes significance of their presence alongside Elon Musk

In a surprising turn of events, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has declared that it is not appropriate for Chinese delegates to attend certain sessions at the AI summit. Despite this statement, Dowden emphasized the significance of both China and Elon Musk, the world's richest man, being present at the UK-hosted event. Dowden acknowledged that there are specific sessions where like-minded countries collaborate, making it unsuitable for China to participate. However, he stressed the importance of working with China as both countries face the same risks associated with AI.

The objective is to prevent any adverse consequences from occurring, and collaboration with China is seen as a fitting approach. While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak extended invitations to world leaders for the two-day summit held at Bletchley Park, north of London, the turnout has been disappointingly low. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is the only other Group of Seven head of government in attendance, with the United States represented by Vice President Kamala Harris. In comparison, Beijing sent Wu Zhaohui, vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, to represent China, as reported by China Central Television.

Dowden emphasized the importance of China's presence as a major AI power. He highlighted the involvement of Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), as a noteworthy aspect of the conference. However, Dowden clarified that he does not endorse many of Musk's views. Despite this, he regarded Musk as an indisputable tech titan whose presence exemplifies the significance of the conference and its purpose. Dowden further elaborated on the distinctiveness of this conference, stating that it brings together both businesses and governments. The innovation of AI primarily stems from frontier AI tech companies, but it is the responsibility of the government to safeguard its citizens against associated risks. This particular conference aims to bridge the gap between these two sectors, recognizing the importance of their collaboration in effectively addressing AI challenges.