President Joe Biden’s recent executive order sets six new AI safety standards, promoting ethical AI use. It has implications for open-source AI and potential impacts on innovation in the United States.
On October 30, President Joe Biden unveiled a comprehensive executive order aimed at establishing stringent AI safety standards. The order introduces six new standards for AI safety and security while emphasizing ethical AI utilization in government agencies. Among its mandates is the sharing of safety test results for AI models posing significant risks to national security, economic security, or public health.
It also accelerates privacy-preserving techniques in AI development. However, the absence of specific implementation details has raised concerns within the industry.
AI investor Adam Struck noted the challenges in predicting future risks, particularly in the open-source community. However, he highlighted the order’s emphasis on regulatory frameworks and data compliance. Martin Casado and other AI experts raised concerns about the impact on open-source AI and smaller companies meeting requirements designed for larger firms.
While some criticize the potential for overregulation, others, like Matthew Putman, stress the need for regulatory frameworks prioritizing consumer safety and ethical AI development. They highlight AI’s potential for positive impacts in advanced manufacturing, biotech, and energy. The order has spurred the creation of the AI Safety Institute Consortium to contribute to AI safety efforts.
