US Commerce and Energy agencies partner to ensure responsible AI development

Government collaboration on AI safety: The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly advance the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of artificial intelligence.

• The partnership, announced on October 30, 2024, focuses on safety research, testing, and evaluation of advanced AI models and systems.
• This collaboration is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to ensuring responsible AI development and deployment.
• The agreement follows the release of the first-ever National Security Memorandum on AI, which designated the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (US AISI) as a key hub for the government’s AI safety efforts.

Key objectives and focus areas: The memorandum of understanding aims to facilitate joint research efforts, information sharing, and technical collaboration between the two departments and their respective agencies.

• The partnership will enable US AISI and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide technical capacity and subject matter expertise to the Department of Energy and its National Laboratories.
• A primary focus will be evaluating the impact of AI models on public safety, including potential risks to critical infrastructure, energy security, and national security.
• The collaboration will involve developing classified evaluations of advanced AI models’ chemical and biological risks.
• Another key area is the development and evaluation of privacy-enhancing technologies to protect personal and commercial proprietary data.

Significance for AI innovation and safety: The partnership underscores the government’s commitment to balancing AI innovation with robust safety measures and national security considerations.

• U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized that safety is crucial for continued innovation in AI, highlighting the urgency of collaborative efforts across government agencies.
• U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm described AI as “the next frontier for scientific and clean energy breakthroughs,” emphasizing the administration’s focus on advancing scientific innovation safely and securely.
• The collaboration aims to leverage DOE’s AI testbeds to help establish a foundation for a safe and innovative future in AI development and application.

Broader implications for AI governance: This interagency collaboration signals a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to AI safety and regulation at the federal level.

• The partnership demonstrates the government’s recognition of AI’s far-reaching impacts across various sectors, from energy and infrastructure to national security.
• By combining the expertise and resources of multiple agencies, the initiative may lead to more effective and holistic AI safety standards and evaluation methods.
• This collaborative model could serve as a template for future interagency efforts in addressing complex technological challenges.

Challenges and considerations: While the partnership represents a significant step forward in AI safety efforts, several challenges and questions remain.

• The development of effective evaluation methods for advanced AI models, particularly in classified contexts, may prove technically challenging and time-consuming.
• Balancing the need for rigorous safety measures with the pace of AI innovation could be a delicate task for the involved agencies.
• Ensuring that the outcomes of this collaboration translate into practical, implementable policies and standards for the AI industry will be crucial for its long-term impact.

Future outlook: The collaboration between the Department of Commerce and the Department of Energy sets the stage for more comprehensive AI safety initiatives and potentially more stringent oversight of AI development in the United States.

• This partnership could lead to the establishment of new AI safety benchmarks and evaluation frameworks that may influence global standards.
• The focus on privacy-enhancing technologies might result in innovative solutions that address growing concerns about data protection in AI systems.
• As this collaboration progresses, it may pave the way for similar partnerships with other federal agencies, creating a more integrated approach to AI governance across the U.S. government.