The White House is taking steps to address the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) by engaging with the top seven AI companies in the industry. These companies, including Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI, have voluntarily made promises to protect users and address the challenges posed by AI.
The commitments made by these companies include investments in cybersecurity, research on discrimination, and the implementation of a new watermarking system that informs users when content is generated by AI. Although the companies have entered into these agreements voluntarily, there are currently no consequences if they fail to live up to their promises. Nonetheless, they are expected to work on implementing these commitments immediately.
In addition to the voluntary promises made by the AI companies, the Biden administration is working on an executive order to tackle the risks associated with AI. While specific details were not provided, the administration stated that actions could be taken across federal agencies and departments.
Over the past few months, the Biden administration has been engaging in discussions with tech executives, as well as labor and civil rights leaders, to address concerns related to AI. In May, the White House announced increased funding and policy guidance for companies developing AI technology, including $140 million allocated to the National Science Foundation to establish seven new National AI Research Institutes. Furthermore, companies like Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI agreed to allow their language models to be publicly evaluated at the annual Def Con event.
This recent announcement from the White House comes nearly a month after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer unveiled his plan for Congress to regulate AI technology without stifling innovation. The plan, called the SAFE (Security, Accountability, Foundations, Explain) Framework, calls on lawmakers to collaborate in order to establish rules addressing the potential harm to national security, job loss, and the spread of misinformation caused by AI.
Schumer’s plan also includes a series of briefings for senators on the technology, with the intent of providing a better understanding of its risks. Following these briefings, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have introduced legislation to regulate AI. Some rules that limit the use of generative AI by the Defense Department have been incorporated into this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, which is expected to be voted on and approved next week.
Regarding the White House summit, representatives from all seven companies will convene at the White House for a physical signing of the commitments. The exact timing of the event has not been announced.
Overall, these collective efforts from the White House, Congress, and the AI industry demonstrate a growing recognition of the need to address the risks and challenges posed by AI. By engaging with leading AI companies and encouraging voluntary promises, the White House aims to foster responsible development and use of AI technology while ensuring the protection of users and society as a whole.
