In a significant move to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within government agencies, Vice President Kamala Harris has announced three new binding requirements to promote the safe, secure, and responsible use of AI by the federal government. This announcement underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring that AI technologies advance the public interest without compromising the rights and safety of American citizens.
During her speech, the Vice President emphasized the moral, ethical, and societal duty of leaders across all sectors to safeguard the public from potential harm while capitalizing on the full benefits of AI. These remarks come on the heels of the Vice President’s presentation at last year’s AI Safety Summit in London, where she laid out the nation’s vision for a future empowered by AI to advance public interest.
The Vice President outlined the three new requirements as follows:
Protecting Rights and Safety: Government agencies employing AI tools must now ensure these tools do not endanger the rights and safety of the American people. For instance, the Veterans Administration must demonstrate that AI used in VA hospitals does not produce racially biased diagnoses.
Transparency: To facilitate accountability, U.S. government agencies are required to annually publish online a list of their AI systems, assessing the potential risks associated with these systems and how these risks are being managed.
Internal Oversight: Agencies must appoint a Chief AI Officer responsible for overseeing the adoption and usage of AI technologies, ensuring that AI is used responsibly across the board.
The Vice President highlighted that these measures were developed in consultation with a broad spectrum of leaders from the public and private sectors, including computer scientists, civil rights advocates, legal scholars, and business leaders. Moreover, the Biden administration aims for these domestic policies to catalyze global action, urging other nations to prioritize the public interest in the government use of AI.
In closing, Vice President Harris reiterated the administration’s dedication to leading by example on the global stage, encouraging international counterparts to adopt similar standards for AI’s responsible and safe use.
As part of the ongoing effort to promote transparency and public engagement, the administration also invites individuals to opt in for text messages to stay informed about how President Biden and his team are working to “build back better.”
For more details on the Biden administration’s initiatives and policies, stay engaged with updates from The White House, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500.