In this era dominated by the rise of AI, the focus is on the incredible potential it offers, but there’s also a shadow cast by the potential misuse of this cutting-edge technology. President Biden, in recognition of the dual nature of AI, signed an executive order on Monday that strikes a balance between embracing AI innovation and protecting against its uncontrolled deployment.
During the signing, President Biden emphasized the ubiquity of AI, stating, “AI is all around us. To harness its potential and mitigate its risks, we must govern this technology.”
The executive order outlines a series of guidelines and requirements aimed at achieving this delicate balance. Utilizing the Defense Production Act, it mandates that developers of new AI models with potential safety risks to the nation or individuals must share their safety test results with the government. This move ensures transparency, preventing the development of potentially hazardous AI applications without appropriate oversight.
Additionally, the order calls for the establishment of standards and testing protocols to prevent AI from spiraling out of control. To oversee these efforts, the Department of Homeland Security will create an AI Safety and Security Board.
To further mitigate AI-related risks, the Commerce Department will issue guidelines for watermarking all AI-generated content, distinguishing it from human-created content. This measure applies to AI-generated videos, documents, or articles, including Deepfakes.
The executive order is not solely focused on restraining AI but also aims to guide it in a responsible direction. President Biden has allocated funding for AI research and introduced AI.gov, a new website designed to connect individuals with government job opportunities in the rapidly emerging field of AI.
The comprehensive executive order addresses a wide range of AI-related concerns, and the full text is available for review on President Biden’s official website.
