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Biden issues U.S.' first AI executive order, requiring safety assessments, civil rights guidance, research on labor market impact

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Summary

US President Joe Biden issued an executive order on artificial intelligence, the nation's first. The order requires safety assessments, civil rights guidance, and research on the labor market impact of AI. It builds on voluntary commitments from leading AI companies and is the first major binding government action on the technology. The order directs the Department of Justice to develop standards for investigating and prosecuting civil rights violations related to AI, and the Department of Health and Human Services to create a program to evaluate potentially harmful AI-related health-care practices. It also calls for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop standards for AI "red-teaming" and for the Department of Commerce to develop standards for watermarking AI-generated content. The order is an effort to bring the power of the federal government to bear in managing AI's risk and harnessing its benefits.

Q&As

What is the purpose of the U.S. government's first action on artificial intelligence?
The purpose of the U.S. government's first action on artificial intelligence is to require new safety assessments, equity and civil rights guidance, and research on AI's impact on the labor market.

What are the key components of the executive order on artificial intelligence?
The key components of the executive order on artificial intelligence include creating new safety and security standards for AI, protecting consumer privacy, advancing equity and civil rights, protecting consumers overall, supporting workers, promoting innovation and competition, working with international partners, and developing guidance for federal agencies' use and procurement of AI.

How does the executive order seek to protect consumer privacy?
The executive order seeks to protect consumer privacy by creating guidelines that agencies can use to evaluate privacy techniques used in AI.

What steps is the Biden administration taking to beef up the AI workforce?
The Biden administration is taking steps to beef up the AI workforce by beginning Monday, workers with AI expertise can find relevant openings in the federal government on AI.gov.

What voluntary commitments have the leading AI companies previously agreed to?
The leading AI companies have previously agreed to implement voluntary AI safety commitments, allow independent experts to assess tools before public debut, research societal risks related to AI, and allow third parties to test for system vulnerabilities.

AI Comments

👍 Biden's executive order is a great first step to hold AI companies accountable and ensure safety, equity and civil rights.

👎 Biden's executive order is inadequate in addressing the potential risks and harms of artificial intelligence.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the Biden administration's recent executive order on artificial intelligence. It requires safety assessments, equity and civil rights guidance, and research on AI's impact on the labor market.

Friend: Wow, that's a huge step forward. What do you think the implications of this order are?

Me: Well, it could have a big impact on how AI is developed and used, since it creates new safety and security standards and protects consumer privacy. It also could help to protect consumers overall by creating guidelines for health-care practices and giving educators resources on how to use AI responsibly. It also could help to protect workers by producing a report on potential labor market implications of AI. Finally, it could help promote innovation and competition by expanding grants for AI research and modernizing criteria for highly skilled immigrant workers.

Action items

Research the potential labor market implications of AI and consider ways to support workers affected by a disruption to the labor market.
Learn more about the voluntary commitments the White House has secured from leading AI companies and consider how to implement them in your own business.
Stay up to date on the latest AI executive orders and regulations, and consider how they may affect your business.

Technical terms

AI (Artificial Intelligence): AI is a type of computer technology that is designed to simulate human intelligence and behavior. It is used to create computer programs that can think and act like humans.
Executive Order: An executive order is a directive issued by the President of the United States that has the force of law. It is used to direct government agencies to take certain actions or to implement certain policies.
Safety Assessments: Safety assessments are evaluations of the safety of a product, process, or system. They are used to identify potential hazards and risks and to determine the necessary steps to mitigate them.
Civil Rights Guidance: Civil rights guidance is advice or information provided by the government to help individuals understand and protect their civil rights.
Labor Market Impact: Labor market impact is the effect that changes in the labor market have on the economy. It includes changes in wages, employment, and the availability of jobs.