U.S. President Joe Biden has issued an executive order setting new standards for artificial intelligence (AI) safety and security. The order includes six primary points, focusing on sharing AI safety test results with the government, developing standardized tools and tests for AI's safety and trustworthiness, and protecting against AI-enabled fraud and deception. It also addresses the privacy risks of AI, calling on Congress to pass data privacy legislation and prioritize federal support for privacy research. The order highlights the importance of equity, civil rights, and AI's impact on the job market, both in the U.S. and worldwide.
United States President Joe Biden has issued an executive order establishing new standards for artificial intelligence (AI) safety and security. The order outlines six primary standards and addresses the ethical use of AI within the government, privacy practices for citizens, and steps to protect consumer privacy.
The first standard requires developers of the most powerful AI systems to share safety test results and "critical information" with the government. Secondly, the National Institute of Standards and Technology will develop standardized tools and tests for ensuring AI's safety, security, and trustworthiness.
The administration also aims to protect against the risk of AI usage in engineering "dangerous biological materials" through new biological synthesis screening standards.
Another standard includes working toward protection from AI-enabled fraud and deception. It calls for the establishment of standards and best practices for detecting AI-generated content and authenticating official content.
The order also plans to build on the administration's ongoing AI Cyber Challenge by advancing a cybersecurity program to develop AI tools to find and fix vulnerabilities in critical software. Finally, it orders the development of a national security memorandum to further direct actions on AI security.
The order acknowledges the privacy risks of AI, noting that "AI can put Americans' privacy further at risk." To address this, President Biden officially called on Congress to pass bipartisan data privacy legislation and prioritize federal support for the development and research of privacy techniques and technologies.
U.S. officials also plan to focus efforts on advancements in equity and civil rights in AI, employ the responsible use of AI to benefit consumers, and monitor the technology's impact on the job market and other social-related topics.
The order outlines the administration's plans for involvement with AI regulations worldwide. The U.S. was one of the seven G7 countries that recently agreed on a voluntary code of conduct for AI developers.
Within the government itself, the order states that clear standards will be released to "protect rights and safety, improve AI procurement, and strengthen AI deployment." It also includes providing AI training for all employees in relevant fields.
In July, U.S. Senators held a classified meeting at the White House to discuss regulations for AI technology, and the Senate held a series of "AI Insight Forums" to hear from top AI experts in the industry.
(SAVANNAH FORTIS, COINTELEGRAPH, 2023)