In a significant move aimed at shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI), President Joe Biden has issued an executive order to establish new standards for AI safety and security. This executive order reflects the growing global debate surrounding AI’s implications and the need for comprehensive regulations to ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
How to Drive AI Responsibility?
Under the new executive order, companies developing foundational AI models are required to notify the federal government and share the results of all safety tests before deploying them for public use. This is in response to the concerns arising from the fast-paced development of generative AI, driven in part by systems like ChatGPT and foundational AI models developed by OpenAI.
The recent G7 meeting highlighted key themes that need to be addressed in the so-called Hiroshima AI Process. The seven participating countries have now reached an agreement on guiding principles and a voluntary code of conduct for AI developers to follow.
Additionally, the United Nations (UN) has established a board to explore AI governance, and the United Kingdom hosted a global summit on AI governance at Bletchley Park, featuring discussions on critical topics. This heightened focus on AI safety and governance has led the Biden-Harris Administration to secure “voluntary commitments” from major AI developers, including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon, in preparation for the executive order.
What is Ensuring AI Safety and Security?
The executive order emphasizes the importance of AI safety and security, particularly for the most powerful AI systems. Developers of these systems must share safety test results and related data with the U.S. government, aligning with the Defense Production Act (1950). This approach targets foundation models that could pose risks to national security, economic security, or public health.
The order aims to guarantee that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy before they are made public, reinforcing the need for responsible AI development.
Developing New Standards and Tools
The executive order outlines plans to develop new tools and systems to ensure the safety and trustworthiness of AI. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is tasked with establishing new standards for extensive red-team testing before AI system release. Various departments, including Energy and Homeland Security, will address AI-related risks in critical infrastructure.
Challenges Ahead
While the executive order addresses issues related to equity and civil rights, such as discrimination and bias, it largely provides recommendations and guidelines for these concerns. There is uncertainty about the extent to which this order can be enforced without additional legislative changes.
The order raises concerns about data privacy, as AI technology can make it easier to extract and exploit individuals’ private data. It calls on Congress to pass “bipartisan data privacy legislation” and requests federal support for the development of privacy-preserving AI techniques.
Global Impact
The European Union has been working on comprehensive AI regulations, underlining the global challenge of regulating AI in a rapidly changing landscape, especially to promote bank-fintech partnership to drive innovation. The impact of President Biden’s executive order on major AI developers like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Meta remains to be seen as efforts to address AI’s ethical and security concerns continue to evolve.
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