University Leaders deliver key message on AI ahead of G7 summit

The U7+ Alliance is an international coalition of university presidents who work together to engage in discussions and agree on concrete actions to address pressing global challenges. In 2019, the University of Edinburgh joined as a founding member.

This Alliance brings together 100+ presidents and leaders of universities from over 20 countries, including all G7 nations, and beyond. Members are committed to academic freedom and scholarly values and convinced of the key role of universities as global actors.

There are currently three working groups which the Universities of the U7+ work on together:

• Campus Dialogue
• Artificial Intelligence
• Climate Change & Sustainability (which Derek MacLeod, Head of Global Partnerships and Community in Edinburgh Global chairs on behalf of the U7+). 

If you are a University staff member and want to find out more about the working groups, please visit: 

U7+ Alliance members meet annually at a Presidential Summit to establish a common agenda and identify key areas for coordinated action. This year's meeting took place in Ottawa, Canada. Members discussed, amongst other areas, the rapid advancement of AI-driven technology. This resulted in an official Communiqué entitled “The Role of Universities in Advancing AI”. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Sir Peter Mathieson joined 39 other University presidents from 16 countries in singing this document which was officially delivered to the Canadian government, as the hosts of this year’s G7 summit. 

The outcomes

U7+ members committed to the following: 

• Continue to update and upgrade training pathways for all our students, not only those engaged in AI development. Sensitise them to new opportunities for the application of AI technologies as well as to risks posed by AI in general. Together we commit to sharing best practices and courses with one another so that we can build on our strengths as a global network.
• Ensure that we are creating opportunities for all universities in our networks to deepen their knowledge of and access to AI training and technologies, so that innovations can be developed to benefit all nations.
• Being trusted brokers for governments at all levels, bringing our research and training expertise to develop programs for governments to deepen their understanding of AI and its opportunities. By developing tailored programs, universities can train civil servants on opportunities to innovate and increase efficiency of government processes. Furthermore, working with governments, universities can contribute to mitigating risks to democratic processes and to individual/community rights and well-being by advising on appropriate policy and legal frameworks.
• Playing a critical role in the responsible advancement of AI by fostering innovation and creating opportunities to develop technologies that contribute to individual and population health, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic prosperity, while also monitoring their adoption and implementation to ensure meaningful and equitable impact.

Key role to play in AI

Universities are independent actors guided by research, education, and services to our communities – maintaining collaborations between university AI leaders, government and industry stakeholders is crucial to making the best use of AI technologies. As well as minimising anticipated risks, including finding new ways to ensure AI technologies are more energy efficient.

Many key figures in the development of AI come from U7+ universities, and we host many of the hubs where the algorithms and tools underpinning commercial GenAI products were originally developed. Given this expertise, we can work effectively with G7 governments and other stakeholders to develop a more inclusive ecosystem to train and nurture the next generation of AI leaders.

The successful deployment of AI hinges on whether people trust it to deliver its benefits safely and securely. This underscores the need to develop a balanced approach to AI governance, encouraging innovation while also ensuring safety and security. The spread of misinformation, including the creation of deep fakes, will continue to adversely affect societies, particularly at election times, increasing misinformation and enabling disruption in political conversations. Additionally, the misuse of AI technologies such as Large Language Models without adequate understanding of their functionalities, for decision-making in critical fields like justice, healthcare, or public welfare, can create public mistrust in authorities and in policymakers. Our institutions can play a crucial role in advising on clear guidelines to manage the risks of AI technologies, balancing innovation, and regulations to ensure the safety and security of their use.

Recommendations for G7

We envision this consortium as a trusted advisory body leveraging the knowledge of leading universities from across the globe to achieve two interconnected roles: first, it would support policymakers and government agencies to implement the AI transition. Second, it would address AI safety and security and would work closely with the emerging network of public-sector/hybrid AI Safety institutes.

U7+ would also support the creation of an AI research and governance interface tool: Develop a trusted portal to share credible and rigorous resources for AI research and governance to support the decision-making of policy makers. This portal will address the current fragmentation of initiatives by providing a single point of access and verification for public authorities. Working with governments on key resources they are seeking, the portal will increase transparency, build trust, and ensure that decision-makers have access to the latest research-based knowledge on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI.

Governments will need to create funding support for inclusive innovation through strengthened North–South collaboration on AI training, knowledge transfer, shared platforms, and the development of novel technologies.

Related Links

U7+ Alliance and the University of Edinburgh

Find out more about the working groups (staff only)

G7 Impact