President Biden and the White House published an Executive Order on AI that highlighted the potential risks and benefits of the technology and outlined the administration's plans to ensure its safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use.
Many AI professionals had expected controls centered on the large AI leaders in the U.S. that could have crippled the ability of smaller players to compete. However, the document was more benign and was mostly aimed at developing safety standards and establishing security protocols.
The statement notes that AI has the potential to transform many aspects of our lives, from the way we work and learn to the way we interact with the world around us. However, it also warns that AI can pose risks, such as discrimination, bias, and job displacement.
The Fact Sheet explains that The Executive Order directs the following actions:
· Require that developers of the most powerful AI systems share their safety test results and other critical information with the U.S. government.
· Develop standards, tools, and tests to help ensure that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy.
· Protect against the risks of using AI to engineer dangerous biological materials.
· Protect Americans from AI-enabled fraud and deception by establishing standards and best practices for detecting AI-generated content and authenticating official content.
· Establish an advanced cybersecurity program to develop AI tools to find and fix vulnerabilities in critical software.
· Order the development of a National Security Memorandum that directs further actions on AI and security, to be developed by the National Security Council and White House Chief of Staff.
To address these risks, the administration is taking a number of steps, including (italics are direct quotes from the Fact Sheet):
Issuing an executive order that establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans' privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation and competition, and advances American leadership around the world.
Securing voluntary commitments from leading AI companies to help move toward safe, secure, and transparent development of AI technology.
Investing in research and development to develop new AI technologies that are safe, secure, and trustworthy.
Working with international partners to develop global norms and standards for the responsible development and use of AI.
To Promote Innovation and Competition – the Executive Order provides the following instructions:
Catalyze AI research across the United States through a pilot of the National AI Research Resource—a tool that will provide AI researchers and students access to key AI resources and data—and expanded grants for AI research in vital areas like healthcare and climate change.
Promote a fair, open, and competitive AI ecosystem by providing small developers and entrepreneurs access to technical assistance and resources, helping small businesses commercialize AI breakthroughs, and encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to exercise its authority.
Use existing authorities to expand the ability of highly skilled immigrants and nonimmigrants with expertise in critical areas to study, stay, and work in the United States by modernizing and streamlining visa criteria, interviews, and reviews.
The Biden-Harris Administration will continue working with other nations to support safe, secure, and trustworthy deployment and use of AI worldwide. To that end, the President directs the following actions:
· Expand bilateral, multilateral, and multistakeholder engagements to collaborate on AI. The State Department, in collaboration with the Commerce Department, will lead an effort to establish robust international frameworks for harnessing AI’s benefits, managing its risks, and ensuring safety.
Accelerate development and implementation of vital AI standards with international partners and in standards organizations, ensuring that the technology is safe, secure, trustworthy, and interoperable.
Promote the safe, responsible, and rights-affirming development and deployment of AI abroad to solve global challenges, such as advancing sustainable development and mitigating dangers to critical infrastructure.
The statement concludes by emphasizing the administration's commitment to working with the private sector, civil society, and academia to ensure that AI is used for good.
Finally, the Executive Order issued the following instructions to U.S. Government agencies:
Issue guidance for agencies’ use of AI, including clear standards to protect rights and safety, improve AI procurement, and strengthen AI deployment.
Help agencies acquire specified AI products and services faster, more cheaply, and more effectively through more rapid and efficient contracting.
Accelerate the rapid hiring of AI professionals as part of a government-wide AI talent surge led by the Office of Personnel Management, U.S. Digital Service, U.S. Digital Corps, and Presidential Innovation Fellowship. Agencies will provide AI training for employees at all levels in relevant fields.
In short, the Biden administration is taking a comprehensive approach to address the risks and opportunities of AI. The administration's goal is to ensure that AI is used to benefit all Americans while protecting them from potential harm. Companies that work with AI should consider some of the same measures.