A new era of national regulations on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to commence with the White House’s latest executive order titled “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence.” This executive order marks the initial phase in establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI that will be applicable to both the public and private sectors. While it expands upon previous AI guidelines and encompasses a wide array of objectives for the AI landscape, some limitations are evident, including a lack of accountability, specific timelines, and potentially burdensome reporting requirements.
The executive order adheres to a traditional legislative approach where the government is tasked with overseeing AI’s evolution rather than setting forth a flexible set of guidelines for the AI industry to self-regulate. This static approach may not align with the rapid pace of technological advancements within the secretive industry, as observed in other technological advancements. These are my perspectives on the potential impacts and effectiveness of this executive order.
AI Regulations
The executive order introduces new standards for AI safety and security, particularly by requiring major AI developers to report the outcomes of safety assessments to the federal government. The exact details of the reporting obligations for the myriad businesses and developers fine-tuning specialized large-scale models for distinct applications remain unclear but are crucial.
AI necessitates regulation due to its significant capabilities, and while it possesses neutral inherent characteristics, precautions are warranted owing to its immense influence. The reporting criteria could potentially evolve in a manner akin to established regulated industries, where the primary infrastructure providers impacting the populace shoulder the governmental responsibilities, despite the executive order concentrating on imposing these standards on prominent model developers. To sustain America’s leadership in innovation, authorities may adopt a lenient stance towards businesses.
AI Surveillance
Although there are commendable specifics in certain areas, such as the Department of Commerce’s initiative to formulate guidelines for content verification and watermarking to distinctly identify AI-generated content, several security objectives remain subject to ongoing discussions.
