What did the UK's AI Safety Summit actually achieve?

In the weeks leading up to the UK's AI Safety Summit, held on 1 and 2 November, prime minister Rishi Sunak repeatedly stressed the potential risks that artificial intelligence could pose to society. Then, on the second morning of the event, he told reporters that people must avoid "alarmist" claims – just before warning that AI could be as dangerous as nuclear war. It is safe to say there were mixed messages. But the summit was, of course, intended to disperse this fog of confusion: to examine the risks of AI, provide space for representatives of nations around the world to talk with business leaders and technology experts, and ultimately plan for a future that avoids disastrous pitfalls. The main takeaway was the new Bletchley Declaration, signed by 28 nations, including China and the US, and the European Union.