Propelling Responsible AI Innovation

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) have become pivotal drivers of progress. Recognizing the immense potential and inherent risks associated with this transformative technology, the Biden-Harris Administration has undertaken a series of groundbreaking initiatives. These measures aim to establish the United States as a global leader in responsible AI innovation while safeguarding the rights, safety, and well-being of its citizens.

Landmark Executive Order: A Catalyst for Change

Nine months ago, President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order that set in motion a comprehensive strategy to harness the benefits and mitigate the risks of AI. This pioneering directive built upon the voluntary commitments previously secured from 15 leading U.S. AI companies, laying the foundation for a collaborative approach to responsible AI development.

Apple Joins the Fold: Strengthening the Commitment

In a significant development, the Administration announced that tech giant Apple has joined the voluntary commitments, further solidifying these guidelines as cornerstones of responsible AI innovation. This move not only broadens the scope of industry participation but also underscores the importance of collective action in shaping the future of AI.

Timely Completion: Agencies Deliver on Executive Order Directives

The federal agencies tasked with implementing the Executive Order have demonstrated remarkable efficiency, completing all 270-day actions outlined in the directive on schedule. This achievement showcases the Administration's unwavering dedication to ensuring the safe and ethical development of AI technologies.

Multifaceted Approach: Addressing AI Risks and Challenges

The Administration's efforts have spanned a wide range of critical areas, including mitigating safety and security risks, protecting privacy, advancing equity and civil rights, safeguarding consumers and workers, promoting innovation and competition, and bolstering American leadership on the global stage.

Managing Risks to Safety and Security

Over the course of 270 days, federal agencies have taken sweeping actions to address the safety and security risks posed by AI. These measures include:

Releasing technical guidelines from the AI Safety Institute (AISI) to aid leading AI developers in evaluating and mitigating the misuse of dual-use foundation models.

Publishing final frameworks on managing generative AI risks and securely developing generative AI systems and dual-use foundation models.

Developing and expanding AI testbeds and model evaluation tools at the Department of Energy (DOE) to assess AI model safety and security, particularly for critical infrastructure, energy security, and national security applications.

Reporting findings from AI pilots conducted by the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address vulnerabilities in government networks used for national security and civilian purposes, respectively.

Issuing a call to action from the Gender Policy Council and Office of Science and Technology Policy to combat image-based sexual abuse, including synthetic content generated by AI.

Bringing AI Talent into Government

Recognizing the importance of skilled professionals in driving AI innovation, the Administration launched the AI Talent Surge initiative. This government-wide effort has successfully brought over 200 AI and AI-enabling professionals into the public sector, working on critical missions ranging from informing AI-driven permitting efforts to advising on AI investments and policy development.

Building upon the AI Talent Surge's success, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has announced new commitments from the technology ecosystem, including nearly $100 million in funding, to bolster the broader public interest technology ecosystem and facilitate the recruitment of technologists into government service.

Advancing Responsible AI Innovation

The Executive Order directed agencies to seize AI's promise while ensuring responsible development and use across the economy and society. Within the 270-day timeframe, agencies have:

Prepared a report on the potential benefits, risks, and implications of dual-use foundation models with widely available model weights, including related policy recommendations.

Awarded over 80 research teams access to computational and other AI resources through the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot, supporting projects tackling deepfake detection, AI safety, medical diagnostics, and other critical priorities.

Released a guide for designing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI tools for educational use, addressing equity, civil rights, trust, and transparency.

Published guidance on evaluating the eligibility of patent claims involving AI inventions, providing clarity for inventors and patent examiners.

Issued a report on federal research and development (R&D) efforts to advance trustworthy AI over the past four years, examining an annual federal AI R&D budget of nearly $3 billion.

Launched a $23 million initiative to promote the use of privacy-enhancing technologies to solve real-world problems, including those related to AI.

Announced millions of dollars in further investments to advance responsible AI development and use throughout society, including $30 million for inclusive experiential learning in emerging technologies and $10 million to build AI research capacity at minority-serving institutions.

Advancing U.S. Leadership Abroad

Recognizing the global nature of AI's impact, the Administration has taken significant steps to bolster U.S. leadership on the international stage:

Issuing a comprehensive plan for U.S. engagement on global AI standards, incorporating input from public and private sector stakeholders and identifying priority areas for AI standards work.

Developing guidance for managing risks to human rights posed by AI, recommending actions based on the NIST AI Risk Management Framework to governments, the private sector, and civil society worldwide.

Launching a global network of AI Safety Institutes and other government-backed scientific offices to accelerate information exchange and drive toward common or compatible safety evaluations and policies.

Launching a landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution, unanimously adopted by over 100 co-sponsors, outlining a common vision for promoting the safe and secure use of AI to address global challenges.

Expanding global support for the U.S.-led Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy, now endorsed by 55 nations.

Voluntary Commitments: Ensuring Safety, Security, and Trust

In a significant development, the Biden-Harris Administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven leading AI companies – Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI – to help move toward safe, secure, and transparent AI development. These commitments underscore three fundamental principles: safety, security, and trust, marking a critical step toward responsible AI innovation.

Ensuring Products are Safe Before Introducing Them to the Public

The companies have committed to:

Conducting internal and external security testing of their AI systems before release, including testing by independent experts to guard against biosecurity, cybersecurity, and societal risks.

Sharing information across the industry and with governments, civil society, and academia on managing AI risks, including best practices for safety, attempts to circumvent safeguards, and technical collaboration.

Building Systems that Put Security First

To prioritize security, the companies have pledged to:

Invest in cybersecurity and insider threat safeguards to protect proprietary and unreleased model weights, ensuring their controlled release and consideration of security risks.

Facilitate third-party discovery and reporting of vulnerabilities in their AI systems, enabling prompt identification and resolution of issues.

Earning the Public's Trust

To foster public trust in AI technologies, the companies have committed to:

Developing robust technical mechanisms, such as watermarking systems, to ensure users can identify AI-generated content, reducing the dangers of fraud and deception.

Publicly reporting their AI systems' capabilities, limitations, and areas of appropriate and inappropriate use, covering security risks and societal impacts like fairness, bias, and privacy.

Prioritizing research on the societal risks posed by AI systems, including harmful bias, discrimination, and privacy concerns, and implementing measures to mitigate these risks.

Deploying advanced AI systems to address society's greatest challenges, from cancer prevention to mitigating climate change, harnessing AI's potential for prosperity, equality, and security.

As the Administration advances this agenda domestically, it is also collaborating with allies and partners to establish a strong international framework governing the development and use of AI. Consultations on the voluntary commitments have already taken place with Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, the UAE, and the UK. The United States seeks to ensure that these commitments support and complement Japan's leadership of the G-7 Hiroshima Process, the United Kingdom's hosting of the Summit on AI Safety, and India's chairmanship of the Global Partnership on AI, as well as engaging with the UN and Member States in various UN fora.

Comprehensive Commitment: Safeguarding the American Public

The Administration's actions on AI extend beyond the Executive Order and voluntary commitments, reflecting a comprehensive commitment to ensuring the safe and responsible development of AI technologies while protecting the American public from harm and discrimination.

Earlier this month, Vice President Harris convened consumer protection, labor, and civil rights leaders to discuss AI-related risks and reaffirm the Administration's commitment to safeguarding the public.

Last month, President Biden met with top AI experts and researchers in San Francisco, underscoring his commitment to seizing AI's opportunities while managing its risks, building on his ongoing engagement with leading AI experts.

In May, the President and Vice President convened the CEOs of four American companies at the forefront of AI innovation – Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, and OpenAI – to emphasize their responsibility and the importance of driving responsible, trustworthy, and ethical innovation with safeguards that mitigate risks and potential harms.

The Administration has also published a landmark Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, outlining five principles and associated practices to guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems in a manner that protects the rights of the American public in the age of AI.

Furthermore, U.S. government agencies have ramped up efforts to protect Americans from AI-related risks, including preventing algorithmic bias in home valuation and leveraging existing enforcement authorities to combat unlawful bias, discrimination, and other harmful outcomes.

President Biden has also signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies to root out bias in the design and use of new technologies, including AI, and to protect the public from algorithmic discrimination.

Earlier this year, the National Science Foundation announced a $140 million investment to establish seven new National AI Research Institutes, bringing the total to 25 institutions across the country dedicated to advancing responsible AI research and development.

The Administration has also released a National AI R&D Strategic Plan to guide federal investments in AI research and development, ensuring a focus on responsible innovation.

The White House Office of Management and Budget will soon release draft policy guidance for federal agencies, centered on safeguarding the rights and safety of the American people in the development, procurement, and use of AI systems.

Public Engagement: Ensuring AI Works for All

Recognizing the importance of public participation in shaping the future of AI, the Biden-Harris Administration has emphasized the need for AI to work for all Americans. The Administration has invited the public to share their perspectives on how AI can better serve their needs, underscoring the commitment to inclusive and equitable AI development.

Conclusion: A Steadfast Commitment to Responsible AI Leadership

The Biden-Harris Administration's multifaceted efforts to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI innovation underscore its steadfast commitment to harnessing the opportunities presented by this transformative technology while mitigating its risks. Through a combination of executive actions, voluntary commitments, international collaborations, and public engagement, the Administration is paving the way for the United States to lead the world in responsible AI development and implementation.

As AI continues to shape our world, the Biden-Harris Administration's trailblazing initiatives serve as a beacon of hope, ensuring that the immense potential of this technology is realized while safeguarding the rights, safety, and well-being of all Americans and global citizens alike.