U.S. Vice President Announces AI Initiatives
Just a few days after United States President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order on AI, Vice President Kamala Harris is unveiling new U.S. initiatives on AI safety during her visit to the United Kingdom for the Global Summit on AI Safety in London. On November 1, VP Harris announced several bold actions that, in her statement, she says will build upon President Biden’s Executive Order.
In the release, VP Harris emphasizes that the U.S. is collaborating with the private sector, other governments, and society to uphold rights and safety as AI innovation progresses. She is committed to establishing international rules and norms for AI that reflect democratic values, believing that her participation in this week’s Summit will advance this agenda. Her press release outlines seven initiatives and actions.
The first initiative involves the creation of the U.S. AI Safety Institute (US AISI) within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by the Department of Commerce. The US AISI will operationalize NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework by developing guidelines, tools, benchmarks, and best practices to evaluate and mitigate risks from AI. It will conduct evaluations, provide technical guidance for regulators, and facilitate collaboration and information sharing with peer institutions internally.
The second initiative introduces a first-ever draft policy guidance on the use of AI by the U.S. government. Building on prior efforts like the AI Bill of Rights and NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework, this policy outlines steps to advance AI innovation, increase transparency and accountability, create safeguards for AI, and require federal agencies to conduct AI impact assessments. The policy is released for public comment through the Office of Management and Budget.
The third initiative involves a political declaration in which 31 other nations join the U.S. in endorsing responsible military use of AI and autonomy. This declaration establishes norms for the responsible development, deployment, and use of military AI capabilities.
The fourth initiative sees 10 leading foundations committing over $200 million to advance AI in the public interest, covering areas such as protecting rights, providing transparency and accountability, empowering workers, and supporting international AI rules.
The fifth initiative focuses on detecting and blocking scammers who use AI-generated voice models to target and steal from vulnerable individuals through fraudulent phone calls.
The sixth initiative calls on all nations to support the development and implementation of international norms on authentic government-produced digital content and AI-generated or manipulated content.
The final initiative is a pledge to incorporate responsible and rights-respecting practices in government development, procurement, and use of AI.
For those curious about how the VP’s statement and other global laws could impact their company, reaching out to BABL AI is recommended. One of their audit experts will gladly provide assistance.
