Spain's leader advocates for global AI supervisor in meeting with OpenAI CEO

OVIEDO, Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sachez on Monday met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Madrid to discuss artificial intelligence.

The meeting came amid Altman's engagement with high-ranking politicians over the regulation of the revolutionary technology. Last week, the head of the organization responsible for ChatGPT testified before the US Congress.

In Madrid, Sanchez advocated for the necessity of a global supervisory body for AI.

According to Spain’s government, Altman and Sanchez explored “the enormous potential for artificial intelligence to drive economic growth, reduce inequality, and address global problems.”

The meeting, which also included Spain’s Economy Minister Nadia Calvino and other representatives from OpenAI, touched on the potential threats that AI could pose to democracy.

Sanchez emphasized that enacting European legislation on AI will be a top priority for Spain as it prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the European Council later this year.

In September, before ChatGPT took the world by storm, Spain became the first European country to begin creating a state agency to supervise artificial intelligence. The country has also announced €500 million ($540 million) to accelerate AI in Spain.

However, last month, Spain also opened an investigation into OpenAI for potential data breaches involving ChatGPT.

While the meeting with the Spanish leaders was behind closed doors, Altman last week told the US Congress that the benefits of the technology outweigh the risks, but that he wants to work with governments to minimize any potential harm.

“I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong. And we want to be vocal about that,” he said. “We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening.”