Ben Buchanan, White House Special Adviser on AI, discusses the implications of President Biden's executive order on AI. Topics include the future impact on AI use, the need for congressional codification, US vision for AI policy, and the complementary nature of the US executive order and the EU AI Act.
The executive order highlights the importance of balancing AI's promise and potential risks, with safety rules enjoying broad support but the extent and type of regulation still subject to debate.
The US aims to lead in both creating and governing AI by increasing public confidence through safety standards, red team tests, and collaboration with international partners.
Deep dives
Overview of the Executive Order on AI
President Biden signed an executive order on artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to regulate its use across the federal government and various industries. The order highlights the importance of striking a balance between AI's promise and potential risks. While safety rules for AI have broad support, the extent and type of regulation are still subject to debate, with some Republicans arguing against excessive attention to issues like bias and discrimination. The executive order also emphasizes the message that the US plans to lead in both creating and governing AI, targeting not only Washington and Silicon Valley but international actors as well.
Enhancing Confidence in AI's Safety and Security
The executive order seeks to increase public confidence in AI by setting safety standards and requiring the sharing of red team test results and large-scale training run notifications with the government. This focus on safety, security, and trust aims to ensure that AI technology is deemed safe before its release. The order builds on voluntary commitments made by companies and paves the way for further changes in safety practices. The Biden administration hopes to continue discussions with Congress to strengthen the foundation laid by the executive order.
International Engagement and Regulation
The executive order demonstrates the US commitment to lead in AI not just technologically, but also in governance mechanisms, safety protocols, norms, and international institutions. The US seeks to collaborate with countries like the UK and engage in international forums to shape AI policy globally. While it complements the European Union's AI Act, discussions and debates surrounding the EU legislation are still ongoing.
The Biden administration’s much-anticipated executive order aims to send a message that the U.S. will both create and regulate AI. The audience? Washington, Silicon Valley and the world. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly speaks with one of the order’s architects, White House Special Adviser on AI Ben Buchanan.