President Joe Biden has made a significant move in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) by unveiling a new executive order. This marks the first action of its kind by the U.S. government, and it introduces regulations and safety assessments for the technology. The executive order covers various aspects, including safety assessments, equity, civil rights guidance, and research on AI’s impact on the labor market.
Law enforcement agencies have previously expressed their readiness to apply existing laws to address AI abuses, while Congress has been seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the technology in order to formulate new legislation. However, the executive order is expected to have a more immediate impact. Being an executive order, it possesses the force of law, as confirmed by a senior administration official.
The White House has outlined eight key components of the executive order, which focuses on AI safety, security, and trust. According to Bruce Reed, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, this represents the strongest set of actions taken by any government in the world regarding AI.
This executive order builds upon the voluntary commitments previously secured from leading AI companies and constitutes the first major binding government action on the technology. Moreover, it is being announced ahead of an AI safety summit hosted by the U.K.
Although 15 major American technology companies have already agreed to implement voluntary AI safety commitments, the new executive order aims to go beyond that. Described by the senior administration official as an effort to bring the power of the federal government into play, it seeks to manage the risks associated with AI while harnessing its benefits.
The executive order issued by President Biden mandates that large companies share safety test results with the U.S. government prior to the official release of their AI systems. The order also prioritizes the development of AI red-teaming standards, which involve stress-testing the defenses and identifying potential problems within AI systems. Additionally, the Department of Commerce will be responsible for establishing standards for watermarking AI-generated content.
Addressing the AI workforce, the Biden administration aims to strengthen it by providing new opportunities in the federal government. Workers with expertise in AI will be able to find relevant positions on AI.gov starting from Monday.
In terms of timelines, the administration official stated that some aspects of the safety and security measures outlined in the executive order have a 90-day turnaround, while other aspects may take up to a year to be implemented.
President Biden’s executive order on AI reflects a comprehensive approach to regulate the development and use of this technology. By prioritizing safety assessments, equity considerations, and research on its impact, the U.S. government is taking a proactive stance in managing AI’s risks and ensuring its potential benefits are harnessed effectively.
