July 22nd 2023.
Recently, the Biden Administration has taken a significant step toward ensuring that the public is protected from the dangers of emerging artificial intelligence. In a press release, the White House announced that several leading technology companies and firms had agreed to voluntary safety, security, and trust commitments. These companies included Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Inflection.
The White House had previously laid out an AI Bill of Rights framework in 2022, and this agreement was an extension of this initiative. According to the press statement, “Today’s announcement is part of a broader commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure AI is developed safely and responsibly, and to protect Americans from harm and discrimination.”
In addition, President Biden had a meeting with experts and leaders in the field of artificial intelligence to discuss the promise and risks associated with the field in San Francisco. Vice-President Kamala Harris also had a meeting with consumer protection, labor, and civil rights leaders to discuss how to leverage the power of artificial intelligence while still protecting people from harm and bias.
However, not everyone is on board with this initiative. Amba Kak, executive director of the AI Now Institute, told the Associated Press that “A closed-door deliberation with corporate actors resulting in voluntary safeguards isn’t enough.” Her organization is dedicated to creating a policy strategy that addresses the lack of public accountability, consolidation of power by a few companies, and unfettered commercial surveillance in the technology industry.
Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Inflection, pushed back on this idea, suggesting that the companies coming together is a big deal. He told the Associated Press that “This is supercompetitive and we wouldn’t come together under other circumstances.” He also said that the “red-team” tests that the companies agreed to represent a significant commitment even though they are voluntary.
It remains to be seen whether the White House's initiative on artificial intelligence and the technology industry will have the desired effects. However, it is clear that they are taking this issue seriously and are working towards ensuring that AI is used responsibly and in an equitable and fair manner.
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