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☆ Governments race to regulate AI tools
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

ITALY* Investigating possible breachesItaly's data protection authority plans to review artificial intelligence platforms and hire AI experts, a top official said in May. ChatGPT became available to users in Italy in April after being temporarily banned over concerns by the national data protection authority in March. The country's privacy watchdog said in June it had warned OpenAI not to collect sensitive data without people's permission. SPAIN* Investigating possible breachesSpain's data protection agency said in April it was launching a preliminary investigation into potential data breaches by ChatGPT. It has also asked the EU's privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ursula von der Leyen, CNIL, Ziv Katzir, Israel, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Lawmakers, Joe Biden's, Beryl Howell, Alessandro Parodi, Amir Orusov, Kirsten Donovan, Mark Potter, Christina Fincher, Milla Nissi Organizations: REUTERS, Baidu, Microsoft, Markets Authority, Big Tech, Britain, HK, SenseTime, Israel Innovation Authority, EU, UNITED, . Security, International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations, U.S, IBM, Nvidia, Washington D.C, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Thomson Locations: AUSTRALIA, Australia, BRITAIN, CHINA, China, FRANCE, Italy, Hiroshima, Japan, IRELAND, ISRAEL, Israel, ITALY, JAPAN, U.S, SPAIN, New York, Washington, Gdansk

☆ UK focuses on transparency and access with new AI principles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken June 23, 2023. Britain's anti-trust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), is, like other authorities around the world, trying to control some of the potential negative consequences of AI without stifling innovation. The CMA's proposed principles, which come six weeks before Britain hosts a global AI safety summit, will underpin its approach to AI when it assumes new powers in the coming months to oversee digital markets. It said it would now seek views from leading AI developers such as Google, Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, NVIDIA and Anthropic, as well as governments, academics and other regulators. Reporting by Paul Sandle and Sarah Young, Editing by Kylie MacLellan and David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sarah Cardell, Paul Sandle, Sarah Young, Kylie MacLellan, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Google, Microsoft LONDON, Markets Authority, CMA, Britain, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Thomson Locations: Britain, United States

The Federal Aviation Administration indicated Friday that it is moving toward requiring that planes be equipped with technology designed to prevent close calls around airports. The FAA asked an internal advisory panel to make recommendations on how to require systems that would alert pilots if they are lined up to land on the wrong runway or a taxiway, or when the runway they have chosen is too short. The FAA said the move is part of its effort to eliminate “serious close calls.” The National Transportation Safety Board has started investigations into seven such incidents since January. Planes typically have GPS-based systems that warn pilots if they are in danger of hitting the ground or an obstacle. He said the FAA move “sounds like a very good idea.”Preliminary reports about close calls this year point to pilot error in some cases and air controller mistakes in others.

Persons: ”, Douglas Moss, Moss, Chris Manno, ” Manno, Pete Buttigieg, “, Buttigieg, David Boulter Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Transportation, Honeywell, University of Southern, San Francisco International Airport, Air Canada, NTSB, San Diego International Airport, ”, Associated Press, Industry, U.S Locations: University of Southern California, Southwest

☆ Britain sets priorities for November global AI safety summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A piece of paper sits on the Colossus machine at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, Britain, September 15, 2016. It will focus "on risks created or significantly exacerbated by the most powerful AI systems," the government said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has touted Britain as a global leader in AI regulation, and the government wants to accelerate investment in AI to improve productivity. Tech expert Matt Clifford and former senior diplomat Jonathan Black have been appointed to lead preparations for the summit. The two are rallying political leaders, AI companies and experts ahead of the event, which will be held at Bletchley Park in southern England.

Persons: Darren Staples, Rishi Sunak, Matt Clifford, Jonathan Black, Farouq Suleiman, Paul Sandle, William James Our Organizations: REUTERS, British, Tech, Bletchley, Thomson Locations: Milton Keynes, Britain, England, Hiroshima

☆ Britain to host world's first AI safety summit at home of World War II codebreakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bletchley Park is the home of the World War Two Codebreakers, who in 1941 helped break the secret code used by the German government to direct ground-to-air operations on the Eastern front. The U.K. government will host the world's first artificial intelligence safety summit in Bletchley Park, the home of the codebreakers who cracked the code that ended World War II. The renowned Bletchley Park building was the home of the World War II Codebreakers, who in 1941 helped break the secret Enigma Code used by the German government to direct ground-to-air operations on the Eastern front. The U.K. tech sector has been flagging of late, following drops in venture capital investment. The U.S. is by far the world leader when it comes to AI, with massive firms ploughing resources into the technology.

Persons: —, Rishi Sunak, OpenAI, Bard, Alan Turing, Turing, Sunak, Bejiing Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Baidu Locations: Bletchley, Bletchley Park, Britain, China, The U.S, EU

☆ Britain will host AI summit at World War Two code-breaking centre
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A piece of paper sits on the Colossus machine at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, Britain, September 15, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Staples/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Britain will host a global summit on artificial intelligence at the old home of Britain's World War Two codebreakers in November as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pitches Britain as global leader in guarding the safety of the fast-developing technology. The summit will take place on Nov. 1 and 2 at Bletchley Park, the site in Milton Keynes where mathematician Alan Turing cracked Nazi Germany's Enigma code, the government said on Thursday. "The UK has long been home to the transformative technologies of the future, so there is no better place to host the first ever global AI safety summit than at Bletchley Park," Sunak said. Governments around the world are wrestling with how to control the potential negative consequences of AI without stifling innovation.

Persons: Darren Staples, Rishi Sunak, Alan Turing, Sunak, Joe Biden, Matt Clifford, Jonathan Black, Andrew MacAskill, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Bletchley, Tech, European Union, Thomson Locations: Milton Keynes, Britain, Washington, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United States, Hiroshima

☆ Dangerously close near-miss incidents across the US are a wakeup call to the aviation industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The New York Times cited a shortage of air traffic controllers as a significant factor in the string of close calls. During breakout sessions at the safety summit, officials offered theories like inexperienced first officers and overworked air traffic controllers as contributing to the near-disasters. The Times pointed to the challenges surrounding air traffic controllers, in particular, as a root cause. "Air traffic controllers and pilots all play critical roles." While technology is important, Brickhouse says humans are still essential to aviation safety.

Persons: John F, Billy Nolen, Anna Moneymaker, Tim Arel, Anthony Brickhouse, Kathleen Bangs, Tami Chappell, Austin isn't, Brickhouse Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, New York Times, Morning, Delta Air Lines Boeing, Kennedy International Airport, American Airlines Boeing, Delta, FedEx Boeing, Southwest Boeing, JetBlue Airways, Times, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, FAA, Air Traffic Organization, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Delta Air Lines, Hartsfield Jackson, International Airport, REUTERS, Southwest, FedEx, New, JFK, Aviation Locations: Austin , Texas, Denver, Tenerife, Spain, Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, Austin, New York

☆ Airline collision close calls are on the rise partly because there's not enough people working the high-paid, high-stress job that prevents them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Hannah Towey | Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Part of that can be chalked up to the air traffic controller labor shortages. A government audit released in June found that 77% of critical air traffic control facilities in the US are staffed below the recommended threshold. Staffing shortages "have placed a tremendous amount of strain on air traffic controllers," Rich Santa, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said in a statement to Insider. "Air traffic controllers are doing an exemplary job in a very difficult situation, but this is not sustainable." In May, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg told CNN that air traffic control needed 3,000 more workers to be fully staffed.

Persons: Rich Santa, Transportation Pete Buttigieg Organizations: New York Times, Service, Southwest Airlines, FAA, Cessna, Times, NASA, Air, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Transportation, CNN, California TRACON, htowey Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Diego, what's, California, Jacksonville

Mistakes by air traffic controllers — stretched thin by a nationwide staffing shortage — have been one major factor. So do the air traffic controllers who scour the skies and manage takeoffs and landings. The number of fully trained air traffic controllers nationwide has fallen 10 percent in the past decade. data and the agency’s most recent “Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan.”Nearly all U.S. air traffic control facilities are understaffed Circles represent 313 air traffic facilities in the United States, including airport towers and larger regional centers. Desiree Rios for The New York TimesPilots, air traffic controllers and federal investigators have warned repeatedly that America’s air safety system is fraying.

Persons: Louis Armstrong, —, ”, Biden, Matthew Lehner, Mr, Lehner, Ilana Panich, Kennedy, Jan, “, ” Jennifer Homendy, Joe Raedle, Reagan, Desiree Rios, ’, ‘ Organizations: Southwest Airlines, Louis Armstrong New, International Airport, Delta Air, New, Airport, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Frontier, Federal Aviation Administration, The New York Times, United Airlines, American, Airbus, louisiana Magnolia, Times, Phoenix, NASA, Aviation, Pilots, Technology, U.S, Airlines, United, “, Bergstrom International Airport, Kennedy International, Delta, FedEx, JetBlue Airways, JetBlue, National Transportation Safety, Spirit Airlines, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, San, Casper, Federal Aviation, The Times, FAA, National Transportation Safety Board, Department of, Gulfstream, Miami, The New York Times Pilots, Flying Magazine, Sky Harbor, Boeing Locations: Airport Mississippi, New Orleans, San Francisco, American, Dallas, louisiana, louisiana Magnolia Minden arkansas, Minden louisiana, United States, U.S, San Diego, Phoenix, Swiss, Continental, Buffalo, United, Delta, Southwest, —, Austin, Texas, New York, Austin , Texas, Sarasota , Fla, Burbank, Calif, Boston, New York City, Fort, Salt Lake, Ontario, Denver, Las, Portland ,, Baltimore, Miami, Peoria, Ill, Fort Worth, Jacksonville, Fla, Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale, Lexington, Ky, Tampa

☆ Airline close calls have been happening multiple times per week, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On average, there have been multiple airline close calls per week so far this year, the report says. Several of the close calls were linked to mistakes by air traffic controllers, a workforce that's severely understaffedA government audit released in June found that 77% of critical air traffic control facilities in the US are staffed below the recommended threshold. Shaun Best/ReutersClose-call incidents are often the result of human error, such as mistakes made by air traffic controllers and pilots, the investigation found. The US continues to face a shortage of air traffic controllers, with 77% of critical air traffic control facilities in the US staffed below the recommended threshold, according to a government audit released in June. Are you an air traffic controller or training to become one?

Persons: It's, Shaun Best, General Organizations: New York Times, Federal Aviation Administration, Times, Southwest Airlines, FAA, Safety, Reuters, Transportation Department Locations: San Diego

☆ US agencies investigate close call between Southwest plane, Cessna
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Southwest Airlines check-in area sits empty after Southwest Airlines flights resumed following the lifting of a brief nationwide stoppage caused by an internal technical issue, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. April 18, 2023. The facility’s automated surface surveillance system alerted the controller about the developing situation and the controller directed the Cessna to discontinue landing. A person briefed on the matter said the initial review shows the Cessna passed over the top of the Southwest airplane by about 100 feet. The controller had cleared the FedEx plane to land and the Southwest plane to depart. The NTSB said the airport surface detection equipment issued an alert, and the air traffic controller gave go-around instructions to the JetBlue flight.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, David Shepardson, Andrew Heavens, Matthew Lewis, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Southwest Airlines, U.S . Federal Aviation Authority, FAA, Chicago Midway International, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety, Boeing, Cessna, Daylight, San Diego International, FedEx, Southwest Boeing, Lear, JetBlue, NTSB, JetBlue Embraer, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, San Diego, San Jose, Austin , Texas, Boston, Washington

☆ Near miss between private jet and Southwest flight sparks investigations, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A near miss between a Southwest Airlines flight and a private jet has kickstarted two investigations. A Cessna jet was cleared to land on the same runway where a Southwest plane was taking off, per Reuters. A near miss between a Southwest Airlines flight and a private jet where the two planes came within 100 feet of one another on a San Diego runway has sparked investigations from two US authorities. The pilot captaining the Cessna jet aborted the landing after receiving an alert from the plane's surface surveillance system, the FAA said. The Cessna jet passed over Southwest's Boeing 737 by around 100 feet, Reuters reported, citing a source briefed on the matter.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg Organizations: Southwest Airlines, Cessna, Reuters, Morning, Federal Aviation Authority, FAA, National Transportation, San Diego International Airport, Boeing, NTSB, Southwest, Transport Locations: San Diego

☆ US watchdog to review FAA efforts to prevent runway incursions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - A U.S. government watchdog will review Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) efforts to prevent airport runway incursions after a series of incidents where airplanes came dangerously close to each other. The U.S. Transportation Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) said it was opening its audit to assess FAA processes for analyzing data, identifying risks and preventing and mitigating runway incursions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating six runway incursion events since January including some near catastrophes. In March, the FAA said it was taking steps to improve air traffic control, convening a safety summit and issuing a safety alert. In April, it named an independent safety review team and in June announced $100 million for 12 airports to make improvements to taxiways and lighting to reduce runway incursions.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, OIG, David Shepardson, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, U.S . Transportation Department, National Transportation Safety Board, OIG, FedEx, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, FedEx plane's, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Thomson Locations: Austin , Texas, Boston , Florida, New, JFK

☆ British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pitches UK as home of A.I. safety regulation as London bids to be next Silicon Valley
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to the media during London Tech Week at the QEII centre on June 12, 2023. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a big pitch to the tech community Monday, casting the U.K. as a global center for artificial intelligence and regulation of the technology. "I want to make the U.K. not just the intellectual home but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation," Sunak added. However, the U.K. is trying to make measures of its own to be more of a leader in the world of AI. The government in March published a white paper detailing its plan for AI regulation, which sought to take a principles-based approach to the technology rather than proposing new tailored regulations.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Jeremy Hunt Organizations: British, London Tech, Microsoft Locations: London, Silicon, U.S, Union

☆ Deputy US Transportation chief expected to be FAA’s interim leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - Deputy U.S. Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg is expected to be named Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) next interim leader, two sources told Reuters on Sunday. Acting FAA administrator Billy Nolen is expected to leave the agency on Friday, officials told Reuters last week. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating six runway incursion events since January including some that could have been catastrophic. Reuters earlier reported that Nolen is expected to take a position with electric air taxi firm Archer Aviation (ACHR.N) after he leaves the FAA. The FAA, White House and Transportation Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Polly Trottenberg, Billy Nolen, Trottenberg, Nolen, Barack Obama, Charles Schumer, Phil Washington, David Shepardson, Kanjyik Ghosh, Diane Craft Organizations: U.S, Transportation, Federal Aviation, FAA, Sunday, Street Journal, Reuters, United, National Transportation Safety, Archer Aviation, New York City’s, U.S . Senate, Denver International, White House and Transportation Department, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, New York, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Biden FAA nominee who withdrew cites 'cheap and unfounded partisan attacks'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who withdrew from consideration said on Monday he did not see a path forward for winning approval. Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington said in a statement that he had written to Biden on Friday to withdraw. "I no longer saw a respectful, civil, and viable path forward to Senate confirmation," Washington said on Monday. "I faced cheap and unfounded partisan attacks and procedural obstruction with regard to my military career that would have further lengthened the already delayed confirmation process." Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an Independent, said on Monday: "The administration should quickly nominate a permanent FAA administrator with the necessary, substantial aviation safety experience and expertise."

☆ Exclusive: Biden nominee to head FAA withdraws after Republican criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is withdrawing his nomination after Republican criticism that he was not qualified to serve as the top aviation regulator. Last year, Biden nominated Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington to serve as FAA administrator. A White House official had earlier told Reuters "politics must not hold up confirming an administrator to lead the FAA, and we will move expeditiously to nominate a new candidate for FAA administrator." Some industry officials think the White House could name acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen as a new nominee. Nolen, who was named head of the FAA's aviation safety office, has been the acting FAA administrator since April 2022 and has received backing from many Republicans in Congress.

☆ FAA issues safety alert to airlines, pilots after near miss incidents
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 22 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday issued a safety alerts to airlines, pilots and others about the "need for continued vigilance and attention to mitigation of safety risks" after a series of high-profile near misses. "While the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and occurrences, the potential severity of these events is concerning," the FAA said. Six serious runway incursions have occurred since January that prompted the agency to convene a safety summit last week. "While the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and occurrences, the potential severity of these events is concerning." Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. must address rise in aviation close calls - officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

McLEAN, Virginia, March 15 (Reuters) - Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday the United States cannot wait for the next "catastrophic event" to address an uptick in aviation close calls that sparked alarm. "We have seen an uptick in serious close calls that we must address together. National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said the board has issued seven recommendations on runway collisions that have not been acted on. "There have been far too many close calls," Homendy said at the summit. "In light of the recent close calls and the attention being focused on even routine go-arounds — are we emphasizing efficiency over safety?

☆ USDOT defends 'fully qualified' Biden aviation nominee
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - The Biden administration told Congress on Thursday its pick to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is fully qualified and does not violate a law requiring civilian leadership. Republicans question whether Denver International Airport Chief Executive Officer Phil Washington has the required aviation experience needed to serve as top U.S. aviation regulator. Cruz said on Wednesday that Washington was "unable to answer basic safety questions about the 737 MAX crashes, aircraft certification, and how a pilot might react when a system malfunctions." "Surveying the leadership of the aviation field supports this fact overwhelmingly. Washington this week won backing of three former FAA administrators and the chief executive of Frontier Airlines (ULCC.O).

☆ U.S. FAA, NTSB probe new airline runway incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating a string of recent runway incursions that have attracted national attention. The FAA said the American Airlines flight crew discontinued the landing after the controller advised that the Air Canada aircraft was departing. The aircraft were about 3,100 feet (945 meters) apart when the American Airlines jet began its climb-out, the FAA said. The FAA will hold a March 15 safety summit and is forming a team of experts to review airline safety after several recent near-miss incidents. The FedEx plane had been set to land on a runway on which a Southwest Airlines jet was also cleared to depart.

☆ The FAA is taking action after multiple serious safety incidents among US airlines: 'Now is the time'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Billy Nolen, the Federal Aviation Administration's acting administrator, is creating a safety review committee. The group will assess recent incidents and determine if there are any emerging trends. "Recent events remind us that we must not become complacent. According to the FAA, the CAST has been a vital group in proactively identifying aviation safety risks and addressing them before an accident occurs. Three weeks later, a FedEx Boeing 767 nearly landed on top of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 in Austin, Texas.

☆ Senators press U.S. FAA on recent airplane near miss incidents
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Michael A. McCoyWASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S. senators on Wednesday raised concerns about a string of recent near miss airplane incidents with the acting Federal Aviation Administration head as well as about a FAA computer system outage that snarled thousands of flights last month. They impact Americans confidence in our aviation system," said Senate Commerce chair Maria Cantwell at Wednesday's hearing. "The FAA must have redundancies, and not a single point where a failure can happen in a key system." Cruz asked if new FAA safeguards remove the risk of a similar single point of failure. On Tuesday, Nolen said he was launching a safety review after the recent near miss incidents raised questions about the U.S. aviation system.

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