# Seoul Declaration The Seoul Declaration is a commitment adopted at the AI Seoul Summit 2024, co-hosted by South Korea and the UK, to foster international cooperation on AI governance, safety, and innovation. It was signed by leaders from 11 countries and the EU. The Seoul Declaration is a formal commitment adopted at the AI Seoul Summit 2024, held in May 2024 and co-hosted by the governments of South Korea and the United Kingdom. The declaration addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence technology, building upon earlier international efforts such as the Bletchley Declaration. It represents a consensus among participating nations to promote safe, innovative, and inclusive AI development through enhanced global cooperation and the establishment of interoperable governance frameworks. The declaration was signed by leaders from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Its adoption marked a significant step in the evolving landscape of international AI policy, moving beyond mere recognition of risks toward concrete commitments for collaborative governance. ## Background The AI Seoul Summit was the second major international meeting dedicated to AI safety, following the AI Safety Summit held in the United Kingdom in November 2023. At the earlier Bletchley Park meeting, participating countries had agreed to prioritize identifying AI safety risks of shared concern. The Seoul Summit built on this foundation, with leaders also recognizing the broader importance of AI for economic growth, scientific advancement, and societal well-being. The summit took place against a backdrop of rapid developments in [generative-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai) and [large-language-model](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/large-language-model) technologies. Companies such as [openai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/openai), [google-deepmind](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/google-deepmind), and [anthropic](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/anthropic) had released increasingly capable systems, prompting governments to accelerate efforts to establish guardrails. The Bletchley Declaration had established a preliminary framework, but the Seoul Declaration sought to operationalize those principles through more specific commitments. ## Notable Attendees The summit was attended by leaders from the Group of Seven countries, including the United States, Canada, France, and Germany, as well as South Korea, Singapore, and Australia. Representatives from international organizations including the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the European Union also participated. Industry representation was substantial, reflecting the growing intersection of technology and policy. Notable attendees included Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and representatives from [openai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/openai), Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Naver, South Korea's leading portal operator. The presence of these technology leaders underscored the importance of private-sector engagement in shaping AI governance. ## South Korean AI Safety Center A key outcome of the summit was South Korea's commitment to establish a domestic AI safety research center. Minister of Science Lee Jong-ho announced that South Korea planned to open an AI Safety Institute in 2024, positioning the country as a significant player in the global AI safety ecosystem. The initiative included plans to join an international network of similar institutions, facilitating information sharing and collaborative research on AI safety challenges. Lee also expressed South Korea's intention to strengthen cooperation for the development of international standards, recognizing the need for harmonized technical specifications across borders. This move reflected a broader trend among nations to create dedicated institutions for AI safety research. The establishment of such centers was seen as essential for developing the technical expertise needed to evaluate and mitigate risks associated with advanced AI systems. ## Seoul Declaration for Safe, Innovative and Inclusive AI The Seoul Declaration for Safe, Innovative and Inclusive AI was the summit's primary outcome document. It was adopted by leaders representing the EU, the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The declaration commits signatories to foster international cooperation to help develop AI governance frameworks that are interoperable between countries. A significant element of the declaration is its integration of the Hiroshima Process International Code of Conduct for Organizations Developing Advanced AI Systems. This code, developed under Japan's G7 presidency, provides guidance for organizations developing advanced AI systems, covering areas such as risk management, transparency, and accountability. The declaration advocates for the development of human-centric AI, emphasizing collaboration with the private sector, academia, and civil society. This multi-stakeholder approach recognizes that effective AI governance requires input from a diverse range of actors, not just governments. The Seoul Declaration also addresses the need for innovation, acknowledging that overly restrictive regulations could stifle the beneficial applications of AI. The challenge for policymakers is to create frameworks that protect against harms while allowing for continued technological progress. ## Seoul Ministerial Statement for Advancing AI Safety In addition to the leaders' declaration, the summit produced the Seoul Ministerial Statement for advancing AI safety. This joint statement was adopted by ministers from a broader group of countries, including Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the US, as well as a representative from the EU. The ministerial statement called for improving the safety, innovation, and inclusivity of AI technologies. It included a notable commitment to develop low-power chips, recognizing that the rapid expansion of the AI industry would lead to massive energy consumption. This focus on energy efficiency reflected growing concerns about the environmental impact of training and running large AI models. The broader participation in the ministerial statement demonstrated the global reach of AI governance efforts, extending beyond the traditional Western allies to include countries from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. This inclusivity was seen as essential for ensuring that AI benefits are shared equitably across the world. ## Global AI Summit Series The AI Seoul Summit was part of an ongoing series of international meetings dedicated to AI governance. The series began with the AI Safety Summit in Bletchley Park, UK, in November 2023, and continued with the Seoul Summit in May 2024. Subsequent meetings were planned to further develop the international framework for AI governance. This series represents a new form of international diplomacy, addressing a technology that evolves far more rapidly than traditional regulatory processes. The summits provide a forum for governments to share knowledge, align approaches, and build consensus on complex technical and ethical issues. The series also reflects the growing recognition that AI is a global issue requiring coordinated responses. No single country can effectively regulate AI in isolation, given the international nature of AI development and deployment. ## See Also - [artificial-intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence) - Foreign relations of South Korea - AI Action Summit - AI Impact Summit ## References The content of this article is based on the Seoul Declaration and related documents from the AI Seoul Summit 2024, as well as official statements from participating governments and organizations. --- Source: https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/seoul-declaration License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Last updated: 2026-09-12T16:23:27.464525+00:00