Biden Issues Landmark AI Executive Order and Sets Industry Standards
United States President Joe Biden has issued an executive order that seeks to establish new rules and standards for the artificial intelligence (AI) companies in the country. The new executive order aims to set industry standards, enhance citizen privacy, and assess the potential impact of AI on labor disruptions.
Biden's Executive Order Aims to Shape the Future of AI
US President Joe Biden has issued an executive order that seeks to establish new industry standards for operating in the country. The order is comprehensive and seeks to avoid discrimination in AI algorithms and protect citizens' privacy, which is issued by any government.
AI companies are now required to share their safety test results and other critical information with the US government. Particularly, when their activities pose "a serious risk to national security, economic security, or public health and safety" under the new directive.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will be assigned the responsibility of creating standards for the tests, ensuring critical infrastructure projects can combat AI-derived threats.
Citizen Privacy, Labor Security, and Industry Standards at the Forefront
The executive order also addresses the verification of authenticity in communications and content. It calls for "guidance on content authentication and watermarking to clearly distinguish AI-generated content" from official communications.
The order objectively recognizes the potential threats that AI poses to workers' job security, and commits to developing principles and best practices to mitigate potential harm and maximize AI's benefits for workers. It also calls for a detailed report to assess the potential impact of AI on labor disruptions.
Citizen privacy remains a top priority, with the order urging Congress to "pass bipartisan data privacy legislation to protect all Americans, especially kids." This includes research into privacy-preserving techniques and a close examination of how companies collect and use personal information.
Executive Order Gathered Positive Reactions
The executive order and its potential implications for the future of AI in the United States have gathered reactions from various organizations. Maia Hamin, an associate director with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative under the Digital Forensic Research Lab, stated:
"This one-two punch could be a path to getting something like a regime for pre-release testing for highly capable models without needing to wait on congressional action. Hopefully, the NIST standards will encompass both the cybersecurity of the model and its usefulness for malicious cyber activity."
SAG AFTRA, the US actor's guild syndicate, currently on a nationwide strike with an AI-related issue, commended President Biden's commitment, highlighting that “workers and unions must remain at the forefront of policy development. We look forward to working together for a human-centered approach.”
This executive order marks a significant milestone in the evolution of AI regulation in the United States. It sets a clear path for industry standards, privacy protection, and labor security in an increasingly AI-driven world, paving the way for a more secure and equitable future.
What is your take on the Biden Administration’s AI executive order? Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
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