Biden’s AI executive order turns 1: Key impacts and progress

Landmark AI Executive Order anniversary: The U.S. Department of Commerce marks one year since President Biden and Vice President Harris issued a historic Executive Order on the safe development and deployment of artificial intelligence.

• Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo highlighted the department’s progress in implementing key aspects of the Executive Order, emphasizing their commitment to mitigating risks while harnessing the benefits of AI.
• The Executive Order tasked the Commerce Department with numerous responsibilities to promote the responsible development, deployment, and adoption of AI technologies.

Key achievements and initiatives: Over the past year, the Commerce Department has made significant strides in fulfilling the goals outlined in the Executive Order, establishing new institutions and frameworks for AI governance.

• The department established and staffed the U.S. AI Safety Institute (U.S. AISI), which has become a central hub for AI safety research and evaluation.
• A consortium dedicated to AI safety, comprising approximately 280 members, was created to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the field.
• New guidance and software were released to enhance the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems.
• Formal agreements for collaboration on AI safety research, testing, and evaluation were signed with leading AI companies.
• Pre-deployment testing of a new advanced AI model was completed, demonstrating the department’s commitment to rigorous safety protocols.

National Security Memorandum on AI: The Biden-Harris Administration recently released a National Security Memorandum (NSM) on AI, further solidifying the government’s approach to AI development and deployment in national security contexts.

• The NSM designates the U.S. AISI as the center of the government’s approach to advanced AI model testing and evaluation.
• It empowers the U.S. AISI to collaborate with national security and intelligence agencies to ensure the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of AI in these critical sectors.

Implementation of Executive Order priorities: The Commerce Department has made progress on several key priorities outlined in the Executive Order, including:

• Utilizing Defense Production Act authorities to require developers of powerful AI systems to report vital information, including safety test results, to the U.S. government.
• Leading AI safety testing and evaluations, with the U.S. AISI beginning pre-deployment testing of major new AI models through agreements with leading developers.
• Developing guidance and tools for managing AI risks, including frameworks for generative AI and dual-use foundation models.
• Identifying measures to reduce risks posed by AI-generated content, including approaches for labeling and improving transparency.
• Releasing a report on the potential benefits, risks, and implications of dual-use foundation models with widely available model weights.

International collaboration and standards: The Commerce Department has been actively engaged in strengthening international rules and norms for AI development and deployment.

• Secretary Raimondo and other officials participated in global AI safety summits, including the 2023 UK AI Safety Summit and the AI Seoul Summit in May 2024.
• The department announced the establishment of a global network of AI Safety Institutes to accelerate information exchange and drive towards common safety evaluations and policies.
• Comprehensive plans for U.S. engagement on global AI standards and AI-related critical infrastructure topics have been developed.

Looking ahead: While significant progress has been made, Secretary Raimondo acknowledged that there is still work to be done in fulfilling the goals of the Executive Order.

• The department remains committed to spurring the safe development and deployment of AI technologies in society.
• Ongoing efforts will focus on continuing to implement the Executive Order’s priorities and adapting to the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Broader implications: As AI technologies continue to advance at a rapid pace, the Commerce Department’s efforts to implement the Executive Order highlight the critical importance of proactive governance and safety measures in the AI field. The establishment of institutions like the U.S. AISI and the focus on international collaboration demonstrate a recognition of the global nature of AI development and the need for coordinated efforts to ensure its responsible growth and application across various sectors.