BIDEN ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON AI

This past Monday, Oct. 30, President Biden issued an Executive Order that aims to ensure that the United States stays at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) and that the risks of this new technology are minimized.

A White House press release says that the Order includes plans to implement new standards for AI safety and security that protect Americans’ personal privacy, stand up for consumers, and promote innovation and competition among tech companies.

Among the critical reasons behind Biden’s focus on AI is that he sees how this technology can benefit society and America but also its potential dangers to personal privacy.

One major part of the new Biden initiative is to make sure companies and developers of these AI systems share the results of their safety tests with the government. These safety tests, referred to as “red-team safety tests,” are conducted by the developer of an AI platform to ensure its product is safe, secure, and trustworthy before it brings its system to the public market.

Another goal of Biden’s Order is protecting consumers’ privacy concerning AI software. This includes creating guidelines government agencies can use to evaluate an AI model’s policies to protect consumer privacy. The Order includes plans to evaluate how agencies collect and use commercially available information, and to ensure that consumer data will be used appropriately. Along those same lines, this initiative will direct the federal Department of Health and Human Services to create a program to evaluate potentially harmful AI healthcare practices.

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President Joe Biden signs an executive on artificial intelligence in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris looks on at right. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Many workers today are worried that AI may overtake their jobs. This is with good reason, because companies are starting to implement AI into their workflows to improve efficiency. 

The Biden administration plans to “develop principles and best practices to mitigate the harms and maximize the benefits of AI for workers,” the White House press release states. The Order will address job displacement, health and safety, and data collection on/of workers. This initiative is intended to guide employers on what they should do to see that the rise in AI technology is not mistreating their workers.

With giant tech companies such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft having the resources to build their own large AI models, Biden’s Order also plans to increase innovation and competition among AI models by allowing small developers and entrepreneurs access to technical assistance and resources regarding AI. These proposed extra resources and technical assistance for small businesses and developers should help them capitalize on breakthroughs and compete against the tech giants in creating AI software and programs.

Finally, under the Order the U.S. also wants to create worldwide guidelines and standards for AI, ensuring that the technology is safe, secure, and trustworthy for the global population. As to how AI will affect the U.S. government itself, the plan is to use the technology to cut costs and enhance the security of its systems.

Overall, the Biden Order is meant to keep the U.S. at the forefront of the rise in artificial intelligence. Most notably to American citizens, it attempts to ensure their data and privacy are protected from AI, as well as their employment.