United States Unveils Most Robust Worldwide Initiative to Date for AI Safety | AI Safety Initiative

White House Announces Landmark Actions in AI Safety

In a historic move, the White House has declared its commitment to advancing AI safety, describing it as “the most significant action ever taken by any government.”

Executive Order Mandates AI Safety Transparency

President Biden’s executive order now mandates AI developers to share safety results with the US government, placing the United States at the forefront of global AI governance discussions.

UK Hoped for Leadership in AI Safety

The UK government had aspired to lead in AI safety discussions, convening a summit at Bletchley Park starting on November 1st. This gathering aimed to address concerns related to rapid AI advancements, such as the proliferation of deadly bio-weapons and paralyzing cyberattacks.

Differing Approaches: US vs. UK

AI expert Gary Marcus remarked on the differences between the US and UK initiatives, emphasizing the broader scope of Biden’s executive order compared to the UK summit’s more limited focus on long-term risks.

US Takes a Leadership Role

The White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Bruce Reed, declared that the US has taken the “strongest set of actions” globally on AI safety, security, and trust, including the following measures:

1. Setting New AI Safety and Security Standards

The US is creating safety and security standards for AI, obliging AI companies to share safety test results with the federal government.

2. Protecting Consumer Privacy

Guidelines for evaluating privacy techniques used in AI will be established to safeguard consumer privacy.

3. Combating AI Algorithmic Discrimination

Best practices concerning the appropriate role of AI in the justice system will be defined to prevent AI discrimination.

4. Evaluation of Harmful AI in Healthcare

A program will be created to assess potentially harmful AI practices in healthcare, along with resources for responsible AI tool usage in education.

5. International Collaboration on AI Standards

The US will collaborate with international partners to implement AI standards worldwide.

US Bolsters Its AI Workforce

To support these efforts, the Biden administration is enhancing its AI workforce by offering relevant job openings in the federal government through AI.gov.

UK Summit and US Objectives

While the UK summit is acknowledged in the executive order, it is positioned as part of “advancing American leadership abroad,” emphasizing the US’s role as a major player in AI alongside China. The US companies are seen as key drivers in this field.

US and UK Host AI Safety Discussions

This week, the UK is hosting its AI Summit, featuring US Vice President Kamala Harris and top executives from American tech giants. The summit will focus on concerns related to frontier AI and aims to solidify the UK’s position as a global leader in AI risk mitigation.

Global AI Regulation Landscape

The EU is in the process of passing an AI act, China has implemented stringent AI regulations, and now the US has issued this executive order. Additionally, the Group of Seven (G7) countries are reportedly agreeing on a code of conduct for companies developing advanced AI systems.