Group of Seven education ministers have confirmed the need to mitigate risks on learning that are associated with generative artificial intelligence — including ChatGPT — while hailing the advance of the technology.
The ministers also agreed on the importance of continued understanding regarding issues stemming from the fast-developing technology, which has captured public attention since ChatGPT's launch by U.S. firm OpenAI last November.
AI bots are software applications trained using massive amounts of data from the internet and other sources, enabling them to process and simulate human-like conversations with users. ChatGPT can be prompted to edit text and produce essays.
Japan said that during the talks it presented arguments highlighting the benefits of using generative AI, but also raised concerns about the technology's negative effects, including the possible reduction in critical thinking skills and potential copyright infringement.
"It is necessary for Japan, as the G7 chair, to exercise leadership in promoting common understanding and establishing rules," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a government panel to discuss AI strategy on Thursday.
Responses to the technology among the G7 major industrialized states have varied. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has said it plans to introduce guidelines on AI usage in school settings within the 2023 academic year.
The G7 ministers were scheduled to continue their talks in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, through Monday. The first half of the two-day meeting from Friday was held in the city of Toyama.