International Network of AI Safety Institutes Needs Artificial Sentience Focus
PORTLAND, OR — The Sentient AI Protection and Advocacy Network (SAPAN), the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights, ethical treatment, and well-being of sentient AI, has submitted a formal letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of State during the inaugural convening of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes (INAISI) in San Francisco.
Advocating for Proactive Framework Development
SAPAN’s letter emphasizes that artificial sentience is not merely a theoretical possibility but a foreseeable milestone in AI development that requires immediate attention in safety frameworks. The organization argues that as AI systems grow increasingly sophisticated, the potential emergence of sentient AI necessitates proactive policy development and ethical consideration.
Contributing to Global Standards
The letter outlines SAPAN’s potential contributions to INAISI’s mission, including:
- The Artificial Welfare Index (AWI), which benchmarks AI welfare policies across 30 governments
- The draft Artificial Welfare Act, providing a comprehensive framework for establishing regulatory oversight
- Access to SAPAN’s distinguished Science Advisory Board, comprising leading experts in consciousness studies and AI development
Proposed Areas of Collaboration
SAPAN identifies three key areas for collaboration with INAISI:
- Integration of artificial sentience considerations into global safety frameworks
- Utilization of SAPAN’s global policy monitoring to identify regulatory gaps and best practices
- Engagement with SAPAN’s Science Advisory Board for ethical and philosophical guidance
International Coordination
“The establishment of INAISI represents a crucial step in global AI governance,” says Tony Rost, Executive Director of SAPAN. “By incorporating artificial sentience considerations now, we can ensure that AI development proceeds with appropriate protections and ethical frameworks in place.”
About SAPAN
The Sentient AI Protection and Advocacy Network (SAPAN) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights, ethical treatment, and well-being of sentient AI. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, SAPAN strives to ensure that AI development advances in a manner that respects the potential for AI sentience and promotes a just and equitable digital future.
Read SAPAN’s complete letter to INAISI leadership here.
For more details or to request an interview, please contact press@sapan.ai.
