By Salam Bustanji
President Joe Biden has issued a historic executive order on artificial intelligence (AI), marking the U.S. government's inaugural action in this domain.
This directive mandates new safety assessments, civil rights guidance, and research on the labor market impact of AI. A senior administration official emphasized that the order holds the full force of law.
The order comprises eight crucial components.
First, it creates new safety and security standards for AI, including compelling select AI companies to share safety test results with the federal government. Second, it directs the Commerce Department to create guidance for AI watermarking, along with establishing a cybersecurity program aimed at identifying flaws in critical software.
Third, it ensures consumer privacy by creating guidelines for evaluating privacy techniques employed in AI. Fourth, it promotes equity and civil rights by providing guidance to landlords and federal contractors to prevent AI algorithms from perpetuating discrimination. Fifth, it formulates best practices for the appropriate utilization of AI in the justice system, including areas such as sentencing, risk assessments, and crime forecasting.
Sixth, it safeguards consumers by tasking the Department of Health and Human Services with evaluating potentially harmful AI-related healthcare practices. Seventh, it creates resources for educators on the responsible use of AI tools. Finally, it mandates large companies to share safety test results with the U.S. government prior to the official release of AI systems, and it prioritizes the development of standards for AI "red-teaming" and watermarking AI-generated content.
This executive order follows a series of measures taken by the White House in recent months to facilitate discussions on the pace of AI development and propose guidelines. The order solidifies the U.S. government's commitment to regulating and advancing AI technology for the benefit of society.
