Under the new executive order, companies creating any foundation models that pose a major risk to national security, national economic security, or national public health and safety will have to notify the federal government when training the model
US President Joe Biden issues an executive order to address the concerns regarding AI. (Credit: Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders/U.S. Secretary of Defense/Wikimedia Commons)
US President Joe Biden has issued an executive order to address the concerns regarding the safety, security, and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence (AI).
The order puts forth new standards for AI safety and security that will protect Americans’ privacy as well as advance equity and civil rights.
It supports consumers and workers and encourages innovation and competition, stated The White House.
Under the new executive order, companies creating any foundation models that pose a major risk to national security, national economic security, or national public health and safety will need to notify the federal government when training the model.
They will also be required to submit and share the results of all red-team safety tests.
The order also directs agencies to set standards, tools, and tests to address AI systems’ threats to critical infrastructure and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cybersecurity risks.
Besides, it calls for the protection against the risks of employing AI to engineer hazardous biological materials by developing robust new standards for biological synthesis screening.
In line with the new order, the US Department of Commerce will set up guidance for content authentication and watermarking to precisely label AI-generated content.
The executive order also asks to develop principles and practices to reduce the harms and maximise the benefits of AI for workers by addressing job displacement, labour standards, workplace equity, health and safety, and data collection.
Furthermore, it aims to promote the responsible utilisation of AI in healthcare and the development of cost-effective, life-saving medications.
Last week, in the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak revealed the British government’s plans to set up an AI safety institute in the country to examine the risks and possible harms from the technology. The new institute is expected to thoroughly examine, assess, and test new types of AI to help people understand the capabilities of each new model.