Key Points:
- Vice President Kamala Harris announces three new binding requirements for the responsible use of AI by the federal government.
- The requirements focus on protecting rights and safety, ensuring transparency, and establishing internal oversight.
- Agencies must verify that AI tools do not endanger people’s rights and safety, publish annual reports on AI systems, and appoint a chief AI officer.
- These requirements were developed with leaders from various sectors to set a global standard for responsible AI usage.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris held a press call to announce three new binding requirements to promote the federal government’s safe, secure, and responsible use of AI. The Vice President emphasized the importance of ensuring that Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and advancement protect the public from potential harm while maximizing its benefits for everyone.
The first requirement focuses on protecting rights and safety. Government agencies will now be mandated to verify that the AI tools they use do not endanger the rights and safety of the American people. For instance, before implementing AI in VA hospitals to aid in patient diagnosis, agencies must demonstrate that AI does not produce racially biased diagnoses.
Transparency is the second binding requirement. The American people have the right to know how and when the government utilizes AI, ensuring accountability and responsible usage. Agencies will be required to annually publish online a list of their AI systems, assess the risks associated with them, and detail how these risks are managed.
The third requirement pertains to internal oversight. Federal agencies are directed to appoint a chief AI officer with the necessary experience and authority to oversee all AI technologies used within the agency. This ensures responsible AI adoption and usage, with senior leaders overseeing AI implementation.
These requirements were developed with leaders from various sectors, including computer scientists, civil rights activists, legal scholars, and business leaders. Vice President Harris emphasized that these domestic policies will serve as a model for global action, aiming to establish universal rules and norms for the safe and responsible use of AI.
