United States President Joe Biden released an executive order on artificial intelligence (AI), designed to establish “new standards” for “safety and security.”
“The Executive Order 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, advances American leadership around the world, and more,” a statement from the White House reads.
Some of the standards require that “developers of the most powerful AI systems share their safety test results and other critical information with the U.S. government.”
The executive order explains that the National Institute of Standards and Technology will set standards for AI testing, which will be applied by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS will also “address AI systems’ threats to critical infrastructure, as well as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cybersecurity risks. Together, these are the most significant actions ever taken by any government to advance the field of AI safety.”
“Without safeguards, AI can put Americans’ privacy further at risk. AI not only makes it easier to extract, identify, and exploit personal data, but it also heightens incentives to do so because companies use data to train AI systems,” the order adds.
In order to protect Americans’ privacy, the order calls for “prioritizing federal support for accelerating the development and use of privacy-preserving techniques;” “strengthen[ing] privacy-preserving research and technologies;” “evaluate[ing] how agencies collect and use commercially available information;” and “develop[ing] guidelines for federal agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of privacy-preserving techniques.”
The executive order for AI regulations then calls for the advancement of equity and civil rights. “Irresponsible uses of AI can lead to and deepen discrimination, bias, and other abuses in justice, healthcare, and housing,” it reads, explaining that those involved with AI development must “provide clear guidance to landlords, Federal benefits programs, and federal contractors,” “address algorithmic discrimination,” and “ensure fairness.”
The order comes as the United States “leads in AI innovation” and calls for a “competitive AI ecosystem” to ensure that America continues to lead in the industry.
Artificial Intelligence is moving quickly.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 30, 2023
And so is my Administration.
Visit https://t.co/RqhfxoxjQ6 and see how we're harnessing the power of AI and keeping all Americans safe in the process.
