The Biden administration has taken steps to promote responsible AI and limit potential risks posed by the technology. The White House released its AI Bill of Rights in October 2022, but with the rise of generative AI and the popularity of ChatGPT, the administration has faced increasing pressure to come up with more specific plans. Earlier this month, after an open letter signed by tech industry leaders called for a pause in AI development, Biden stated that the U.S. must address the “potential risks of AI.”
The administration’s new actions were announced on the same day that the president and vice president met with influential AI leaders, including CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google and Alphabet. The actions outlined by the administration include:
– New investments to power responsible AI research and development in the U.S.
– Public assessments of existing generative AI systems by leading developers
– Policies to ensure the U.S. government is leading by example on mitigating AI risks and harnessing AI opportunities
The administration is investing $140 million in funding for the National Science Foundation to develop seven new National AI Research Institutes. The goal of these institutes is to conduct research and development into responsible AI usage.
The administration also announced a public evaluation to be conducted at the DEFCON 31 security conference this summer to assess existing generative AI systems. In policy, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is releasing draft policy guidance on how AI systems can and should be used by the U.S. government.
The readout of the White House meeting with AI industry executives emphasized the importance of responsible use of AI. “The President and Vice President were clear that in order to realize the benefits that might come from advances in AI, it is imperative to mitigate both the current and potential risks AI poses to individuals, society, and national security,” the readout states.
While some view the administration’s actions as a positive step, there are concerns about what’s left to be done to support responsible AI. Vishal Sikka, CEO and founder of Vianai Systems, stated that the administration’s actions reflect the urgent need for a transformative shift in the industry. George Davis, founder and CEO at Frame AI, believes that the administration’s announcements put regulatory focus in the right place by enabling responsible and community-oriented research. However, Davis is concerned about the risk of concentrated economic power and believes that policies should focus on enabling continued competitive innovation.
Overall, the Biden administration’s actions aim to promote responsible AI usage and mitigate potential risks.
Leave a Reply