President Biden has issued an Executive Order on artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to position the U.S. as a leader in harnessing AI's potential while mitigating risks.
The order introduces new standards for AI safety and security while protecting privacy and promoting equity and civil rights. Building upon the Biden-Harris Administration's strategy for responsible innovation, the order includes voluntary commitments from 15 major companies to ensure the safe and trustworthy development of AI.
New standards for AI safety and security require developers of the most advanced and powerful AI systems to share their safety test results and other critical information with the U.S. government before making them available to the public. Further, the National Institute of Standards and Technology will set rigorous standards for extensive red-team testing to ensure safety before public release, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, which will apply those standards to critical infrastructure sectors and establish the AI Safety and Security Board.
Moreover, agencies must develop standards, tools, and tests to help ensure that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy.
Part of the order plans to prevent the use of AI to discriminate, including addressing algorithmic discrimination and ensuring the technology is used fairly in sentencing, parole, and surveillance. Government agencies also must provide guidelines for landlords, Federal benefits programs, and contracts on how to prevent AI from deepening discrimination.
The order covers job displacement caused by AI and the impact of AI on the labor market. In contrast, the White House wants to encourage more people to work in the AI industry by ordering the launch of a National AI Resource, which will provide key information to students and AI researchers.
AI Bill of Rights
About a year ago, the White House released a set of 'guidelines' to encourage developers which AI models they should follow. These guidelines were later followed by several agreements between the administration and key industry players, such as Meta, Google, and OpenAI.
Alondra Nelson, the deputy director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said at the time: "Much more than a set of principles, this is a blueprint to empower the American people to expect better and demand better from their technologies.”
While some privacy and technology advocates responded positively, they also pointed out that they are just that - guidelines and are not legally binding.
Legislators are currently in ongoing discussions regarding the regulation of AI. Some politicians have expressed their desire to enact AI-related laws by the end of the year.
