First Report Released by National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee

Back in May, The National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee delivered its much anticipated first report to President Biden. Established to address the use of AI technologies in the criminal justice system, it is also planning to create working groups to explore AI’s impact on the workforce, society, and other issues.

In short, the report is recommending that the United States government take regulatory aims toward ensuring that any harms AI can cause are reduced while maximizing benefits. Part of the recommendations include frameworks to support the workforce as AI continues to enter the market.

Greater leadership in trustworthy AI, more research and development initiatives, and increased cooperation with friendly nations on the topic of AI. Also in the report, the committee identified areas of focus for the next two years. This includes generative AI and other rapidly developing subfields.

Speaking on the issue of AI, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, stated, “We are at a pivotal moment in the development of AI technology and need to work fast to keep pace with the changes it is bringing to our lives.”

He added how the government needs to ensure the benefits don’t get outweighed by potential risks, “As AI opens up exciting opportunities to improve things like medical diagnosis and access to health care and education, we have an obligation to make sure we strike the right balance between innovation and risk. We can lead the world in establishing trustworthy, inclusive, and beneficial AI, and I look forward to considering the committee’s recommendations as we do that.”

Since last August’s AI Bill of Rights.  The White House has made artificial intelligence and the opportunities presented by the technology a top priority for the administration. Even going so far as to request federal agencies to explore how their rulemaking authority can affect AI development.

As for the committee’s plans to realign its working groups to explore the varied impacts of AI, they released the following focus areas:

• AI Futures: Sustaining Innovation in Next-Gen AI
• AI in Work and the Workforce
• AI Regulation and Executive Action
• Engagement, Education, and Inclusion
• Generative and NextGen AI: Safety and Assurance
• Rights-Respecting AI
• International Arena: Collaboration on AI Policy and AI-Enabled Solutions
• Procurement of AI Systems
• AI and the Economy

It’s clear with how these working groups are being realigned, the committee is attempting to take a holistic approach when it comes to how AI could impact society overall. This is a step toward addressing some concerns when it comes to AI and regulation. Back in March, the US Chamber requested that the U.S. Government take greater action to regulate AI. These calls were echoed weeks later by tech leaders who worry rapid advancements in AI could cause degrees of societal harm.

Currently, this work group has a ways go to, and other nations, particularly China, have already begun enforcing regulations on AI within their own markets in a bid to balance risk and benefits.