important point
- The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy called on the public to be informed about artificial intelligence (AI).
- This broad request includes AI perception, representation, learning, and inference.
- The US move follows UK plans to empower regulators to deal with AI issues.
Individuals and organizations have until 5:00 PM EDT on July 7, 2023 to submit their comments on the threats and opportunities posed by the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry.
Public comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. To find the right place to post your comments, search for OSTP and click on Request for Information: National Priority on Artificial Intelligence. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) does not accept comments by email or fax.
Last week, the White House combined a call for comment with an outline of its work on artificial intelligence (AI) to help weigh both risks and opportunities as the world seeks to regulate rapidly advancing technology.
Both are part of “an ongoing effort to drive a coherent and comprehensive strategy to manage AI risks and capitalize on AI opportunities.” The White House also unveiled its latest “roadmap” for AI research funding for the first time since 2019.
“To seize the opportunities presented by AI, nations must first address risk management. According to the National AI R&D Strategic Plan, AI will play a key role in this effort,” allowing it to address challenges that other disciplines cannot address alone.
These efforts are the first steps toward a plan the White House hopes to develop as it tackles the impact of AI. This includes things like a proposed AI “bill of rights” and rules on how government employees can use AI.
USAI Laws and Regulatory Potential
The effort comes after White House officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, met with CEOs of top AI companies to address the risks of new technology. After the meeting, Harris said the government would not hesitate to enact or regulate AI if it determined it was a risk to the economy or public safety.
Even top AI industry leaders say AI may need regulation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in testimony before Congress that the company’s more advanced form of AI than ChatGPT could justify licensing by government regulators. Microsoft president Brad Smith echoed this sentiment this week.
Senators told Altman at the hearing that Congress is lagging behind and sometimes misleading in regulating technology. But the White House is pushing ahead with several initiatives, ranging from technical standards to research funding to workplace guidelines.
International AI regulations and laws
The United States is not alone in grappling with the power, potential and risks associated with AI.
The UK has also made its own proposals for AI regulation. The UK proposal would give multiple government agencies the power to regulate AI tools, products and software, but there is no legislative plan, so rules drafted by those agencies would have to fit into existing law.
A UK white paper lays out a 12-month timeline for bodies such as the Health and Safety Administration, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Competitive Markets Authority to develop the necessary rules for AI.
