News/Policy
AI can’t launch nukes, Biden affirms while embracing tech potential
AI in national security: Biden's strategic approach: President Joe Biden has issued a national security memorandum aimed at harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) while implementing safeguards to prevent its misuse in government operations. The memorandum, released in the final months of Biden's term, seeks to balance the deployment of AI's potential with protection against its possible negative consequences. It explicitly prohibits the use of AI to bypass existing protocols for deploying nuclear weapons and bars its use in limiting free speech. The document broadly bans agencies from using AI in ways that "do not align with democratic values,"...
read Oct 23, 2024China hawks clash over AI policy, imperiling US AI dominance
AI export debate intensifies within US administration: The Biden administration is grappling with a complex decision regarding the export of artificial intelligence technology, particularly to countries in the Middle East, as competing factions within the government advocate for different approaches. The Commerce Department is considering restrictions on AI-focused semiconductor chip exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other nations, reflecting ongoing concerns about technology transfer. A broader review of Microsoft's proposed $1.5 billion deal with G42, a UAE-based data center company, is underway, highlighting the administration's ambivalence towards AI technology exports. The outcome of this internal debate is expected...
read Oct 22, 2024AI’s energy impact and the urgent debate we’re ignoring
AI's growing energy demand and its implications: The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is creating a significant surge in energy consumption, raising concerns about its impact on electricity costs and the environment. Big Tech companies like Amazon and Google are receiving preferential electricity deals from utility companies for their data centers, which are essential for AI operations but consume vast amounts of energy. These sweetheart deals often result in higher costs for everyday consumers, as utility companies seek to recoup their investments and maintain profits. The energy-intensive nature of AI and data centers is putting strain on the...
read Oct 21, 2024Why the science of AI can’t be left to scientists alone
The global AI governance challenge: The United Nations' recent agreement to establish an "independent international Scientific Panel on AI" highlights the growing need for international coordination on artificial intelligence governance, but also raises questions about the most effective approach to achieve this goal. The lack of scientific consensus on AI risks and benefits has become a major obstacle for regulatory efforts at various levels of government, from local to international. World leaders are struggling to find common ground on AI policy, with differing perspectives emerging between countries like the United States and United Kingdom on one side, and France and...
read Oct 18, 2024AI child abuse images spark tougher US prosecution efforts
AI-generated child sexual abuse material: A growing concern: The proliferation of artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is posing significant challenges for law enforcement and child protection advocates, as federal prosecutors test the applicability of existing laws to combat this emerging threat. Federal prosecutors have initiated two criminal cases in 2024 attempting to apply current child pornography and obscenity laws to AI-generated CSAM. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports receiving approximately 450 reports of AI-generated child sex abuse content monthly. Law enforcement officials express concern about the potential normalization of AI-generated CSAM as the technology becomes...
read Oct 18, 20243 key AI policy decisions facing the next Congress
AI policy in limbo: Congress faces critical decisions: The 118th U.S. Congress has failed to pass any of the more than 100 AI-related bills introduced, leaving the rapidly evolving technology sector without clear regulatory guidance. Despite high public interest and concern about AI-related issues, including workplace discrimination, deepfake child sexual abuse material, and fraudulent robocalls, Congress has not taken concrete action. A 2020 Gallup survey found that 59% of Americans believe elected officials are paying "too little" attention to technology-related issues. While some states have introduced legislation to address specific AI harms, there has been no corresponding federal action. The...
read Oct 18, 2024X’s new terms: Your tweets will train Grok AI
X's new terms of service: Major changes and implications: X is set to implement significant updates to its terms of service on November 15, 2024, which will have far-reaching consequences for user data, AI training, and platform interactions. The most notable change allows X to utilize users' public posts as training data for its Grok chatbot and other AI systems, with users required to agree that X can "analyze text and other information you provide" for AI model training purposes. It remains unclear whether the current opt-out option for Grok AI scraping will continue to be available under the new...
read Oct 16, 2024Center for Universal Education launches task force to assess AI in education
The AI education dilemma: The Center for Universal Education has launched a task force to proactively assess the potential impacts of generative AI on education, aiming to guide its integration thoughtfully rather than reactively studying its effects after widespread adoption. The initiative seeks to address two crucial questions: identifying potential risks of generative AI to children's education, learning, and development, and exploring ways to harness AI's opportunities while mitigating these risks. This proactive approach draws parallels with the advent of smartphones, highlighting how technological innovations can lead to both positive and unforeseen negative consequences in educational settings. The task force's...
read Oct 14, 2024California’s new AI laws — here’s what you should know
California's AI legislation: A landmark moment in tech regulation: California has enacted a comprehensive set of 18 AI-related laws, marking a significant step in regulating artificial intelligence across various sectors and applications. Key areas of regulation: The new laws address multiple aspects of AI development, deployment, and use, reflecting the technology's broad impact on society and the economy. AI development transparency: AB-2013 mandates transparency in AI training data, requiring developers to disclose information about the data used to train AI systems. Risk assessment for government agencies: SB-896 introduces new requirements for government agencies to evaluate AI systems' risks in catastrophic...
read Oct 14, 2024San Francisco aims to track AI use with new legislation
San Francisco's proactive approach to AI governance: San Francisco Supervisor Hilary Ronen is set to introduce groundbreaking legislation aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across city and county departments. The proposed legislation seeks to create transparency, assess potential impacts, and establish standards for AI usage in local government operations. This initiative comes as San Francisco, a hub of technological innovation, grapples with the rapid advancement and integration of AI technologies in various sectors. Key components of the proposed legislation: The Department of Technology would be tasked with implementing three primary measures to oversee and regulate AI use...
read Oct 11, 2024The argument for Donald Trump as the clear choice for AI policy
AI as a cornerstone of Trump's campaign strategy: Donald Trump's presidential campaign is emphasizing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions as a key component of his plan to address various national issues. Newsweek contributor John Evans outlines his reasons why Trump is the best choice for the future of AI policy. Trump's campaign highlights AI's potential to improve sectors such as education, healthcare, scientific research, manufacturing, and criminal justice reform. The campaign emphasizes Trump's previous efforts to reduce prison recidivism, including the signing of the First Step Act in 2018, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. Trump's AI leadership during his presidency:...
read Oct 11, 2024What the Justice Department thinks about AI right now
Interagency collaboration on AI equity: The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division convened a meeting of federal agency representatives to coordinate efforts on advancing equity in artificial intelligence and protecting civil rights. The meeting marked the fourth such gathering, coming nearly a year after President Biden's Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI Development and Use. The Civil Rights Division is tasked with coordinating federal agencies to prevent and address potential discrimination and harm from AI while preserving its potential benefits. Key developments and initiatives: Several agencies shared recent accomplishments and ongoing efforts to safeguard civil rights in the context...
read Oct 10, 2024AI-written content probably won’t make your election meddling go viral
AI's limited impact on foreign influence operations: OpenAI's quarterly threat report reveals that while artificial intelligence has been used in foreign influence operations, its effectiveness in creating viral content or significantly advancing malware development remains limited. • OpenAI disrupted more than 20 foreign influence operations over the past year, demonstrating the ongoing attempts to leverage AI for manipulative purposes. • The report indicates that AI has enabled foreign actors to create synthetic content more quickly and convincingly, potentially increasing the speed and sophistication of disinformation campaigns. • However, there is no evidence suggesting that AI-generated content has led to meaningful...
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