Michelle ThompsonThe White House has declared that it is taking “the most substantial steps ever initiated by a government to promote advancements in AI safety.”
President Joe Biden’s executive order mandates that developers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) must share their safety findings with the U.S. government. This positions the United States at the forefront of the global conversation regarding AI governance.
Meanwhile, the UK government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is currently hosting a two-day summit on AI safety starting on November 1st at Bletchley Park. The summit has been organized in response to concerns about the potential risks associated with the rapid advancement of AI, such as the creation of more dangerous biological weapons and more crippling cyberattacks.
In announcing these safety measures, President Biden has pledged to “utilize the potential of AI while ensuring the safety of the American people.”
“Insufficient Enforcement Power”
Tech entrepreneur and AI expert Gary Marcus expressed to the BBC that the U.S. announcement appears to be more ambitious in its scope.
According to Marcus, “Biden’s executive order establishes a high initial standard. The executive order is comprehensive, addressing both immediate and future risks, although it may lack sufficient enforcement power.”
He further noted, “The UK summit seems to have significantly narrowed its focus, primarily concentrating on long-term risks, with insufficient attention to the current challenges. It remains unclear how effective it will be and what authority it will truly wield.”
Alex Krasodomski, a senior research associate at Chatham House, conveyed to the BBC that the executive order indicates the U.S. views itself as a leader in addressing such threats.
On Monday, President Biden addressed reporters and tech industry professionals at the White House, stating, “As artificial intelligence pushes the limits of human potential and challenges our comprehension, this significant executive order reflects our commitment to principles such as safety, security, trust, transparency, American leadership, and the inherent rights bestowed by our creator, which no human invention can diminish.”
The U.S. initiatives encompass:
- Establishing fresh safety and security guidelines for AI, which involve mandates necessitating AI companies to disclose safety testing outcomes to the federal government.
- Safeguarding consumer privacy by formulating guidelines that government agencies can employ to assess the privacy methods employed in AI.
- Assisting in the prevention of discrimination by AI algorithms and establishing best practices regarding the suitable utilization of AI within the justice system.
- Instituting a program for the assessment of potentially detrimental AI-related healthcare practices and developing educational resources on the responsible utilization of AI tools by educators.
- Collaborating with global partners to enforce AI standards on a worldwide scale.
The Biden administration is also enhancing its AI workforce. Starting on Monday, individuals with AI expertise can discover relevant job opportunities within the federal government through AI.gov.
Does This Diminish the Significance of the Gathering in the UK?
Mr. Krasodomski pointed out that the executive order is “undoubtedly significant,” but it may not entirely align with the UK’s goals and objectives for the summit.
He noted, “The UK summit is referenced in the executive order, but it’s categorized under ‘advancing American leadership abroad,’ which suggests that the U.S. acknowledges its prominent role alongside China, particularly driven by American companies.”
Mr. Krasodomski also highlighted, “While organizing a small, highly technical summit is challenging, it’s clear that for a technology with significant global impact, extensive collaboration with countries worldwide will be essential.”
Furthermore, U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and top executives from American tech giants are currently visiting the UK to participate in discussions on AI safety at the UK government’s AI Summit, which is touted as a “world first.”
The summit’s primary focus is addressing increasing concerns surrounding the consequences of frontier AI. Notable figures such as the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, are set to participate.
The UK is striving to establish itself as a global leader in efforts to mitigate the risks associated with this influential technology. However, the EU is currently in the process of enacting an AI act, China has already implemented stringent AI regulations, and now the U.S. has issued this executive order.
Furthermore, Reuters reports that the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations is in the process of reaching an agreement on a code of conduct for companies engaged in the development of advanced AI systems.
Considering this extensive international activity, it raises the question of how much scope remains for open discussions at Bletchley Park this week.
Emily Martinez
