The group will focus on ensuring safe and responsible development of what is called "frontier AI models" that exceed the capabilities present in the most advanced existing models.

They are highly capable foundation models that could have dangerous capabilities sufficient to pose severe risks to public safety.

Generative AI models, like the one behind chatbots like ChatGPT, extrapolate large amounts of data at high speed to share responses in the form of prose, poetry and images.

While the use cases for such models are plenty, governments bodies including the European Union and industry leaders including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have said appropriate guardrail measures would be necessary to tackle the risk posed by AI.

The industry body, Frontier Model Forum, will work to advance AI safety research, identify best practices for deployment of frontier AI models and work with policymakers, academic and companies.

But it will not engage in lobbying with governments, an OpenAI spokesperson said.

"Companies creating AI technology have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe, secure and remains under human control," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a statement.

The forum will create an advisory board in the coming months and also arrange for funding with a working group as well as create an executive board to lead its efforts.

Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru and Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, Calif; Editing by Arun Koyyur
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