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Google, Microsoft, OpenAI Join Forces to Create AI Safety Forum

Along with startup Anthropic, the companies formed the group to establish responsible AI practices.

Kourtnee Jackson Senior Editor
Kourtnee covers TV streaming services and home entertainment news and reviews at CNET. She previously worked as an entertainment reporter at Showbiz Cheat Sheet where she wrote about film, television, music, celebrities, and streaming platforms.
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Kourtnee Jackson
2 min read
illustration with OpenAI displayed on screen with Microsoft Bing on mobile

Microsoft, Google and OpenAI are among the companies that partnered up for a new AI-focused initiative.

Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images

ChatGPT maker Open AI , startup Anthropic and tech giants Google and Microsoft have forged an alliance to create a framework for safety standards and the responsible development of what they're calling "frontier AI" models

The four tech companies on Wednesday announced the formation of the Frontier Model Forum in a blog post and shared the group's main areas of focus. The announcement comes less than a week after top executives of those four companies, along with others including Meta and Amazon, met with President Biden and pledged to reduce the dangers that unrestrained artificial intelligence may pose and to abide by AI safety measures which prioritize the public's security and trust.

The Frontier Model Forum has outlined its blueprint for the coming year with three areas of priority. They include determining best practices for developing and launching AI applications, furthering AI safety research, and having transparent discussions on vulnerability, risks and security with lawmakers, academic institutions and industry peers. 

As part of its larger strategy, the group is open to other organizations joining as members if they meet the criteria regarding frontier models, which they defined as "large-scale machine-learning models that exceed the capabilities currently present in the most advanced existing models." The founding companies plan to assemble an advisory board in the coming months as well.

"Companies creating AI technology have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe, secure, and remains under human control," said Microsoft's president and vice chair, Brad Smith, said in a statement. "This initiative is a vital step to bring the tech sector together in advancing AI responsibly and tackling the challenges so that it benefits all of humanity."

Concerns about AI safety and security risks have prompted calls for multilateral oversight and the establishment of guardrails for consumers and enterprises. Tech firms are being asked to address issues around deepfakes, cybersecurity threats, discrimination and data collection.

Read more: Amazon Web Services Wants to Teach You How to Use Generative AI

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