Vice President Kamala Harris plans to announce a series of additional measures Wednesday to curb the risks of artificial intelligence as she prepares to participate in a global summit in Britain where world and technology leaders will discuss the future of technology.
In her visit, which will begin Wednesday with a policy speech at the US Embassy in London, Harris plans to outline the guardrails the US government will seek to implement to manage the risks of ai as it asserts itself as a global leader. . leader in the arena.
Taken together, the measures Harris plans to announce seek to flesh out a sweeping executive order that President Biden signed this week and make its ideals part of broader global standards for a technology that holds great promise and danger.
They include a new draft policy from the Office of Management and Budget that would guide how federal agencies use artificial intelligence, which would be overseen by new ai directors. It will also announce that 30 other nations have joined a “political declaration” created by the United States that seeks to establish a “set of standards for the development, deployment and responsible use of military ai capabilities,” as well as $200 million in funding. philanthropy to help support the administration’s goals.
“The urgency of this moment must compel us to create a collective vision of what this future should be,” Ms. Harris plans to say on Wednesday, according to prepared remarks released by her office.
The executive order Biden signed on Monday marked the most concrete US regulatory effort in the ai space to date. Among other things, it requires companies to inform the federal government about the risks that their systems could help countries or terrorists make weapons of mass destruction. He also seeks to lessen the dangers of “deepfakes” (ai-generated audio and video that can be difficult to distinguish from authentic images) that could influence elections or scam consumers.
“President Biden and I believe that all leaders—in government, civil society, and the private sector—have a moral, ethical, and social duty to ensure that ai is adopted and advanced in a way that protects the public from potential harm.” and ensure everyone is protected. to be able to enjoy its benefits,” Ms. Harris plans to say in her comments.
On Thursday, Harris will represent the United States at a summit hosted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which is expected to draw tech figures such as Elon Musk and representatives from countries that are advancing ai, such as China.
The United States lags behind places like the European Union, China and Israel in regulating technology, Congress has yet to pass major legislation on the issue, and many of the provisions of Biden’s executive order are largely unenforceable. . But the administration has secured agreements from major companies, which have pledged to manage risks in the race to capitalize on the technology, and has established a “Plan for an ai Bill of Rights” that focuses on consumer protections. .
Among the other announcements Wednesday will be a “virtual hackathon,” in which the White House will invite teams of technology experts to build models that can intercept unwanted robocalls from scammers who use ai-generated voices to target vulnerable populations like the elderly.
Harris’ message will place a clear emphasis on the consumer protection aspect of ai, including how it could exacerbate existing inequalities. Research has shown that ai programs can inadvertently produce biased results that discriminate based on race, gender, or age.
Harris plans to focus on a “full spectrum” of risks that have already emerged, such as bias, discrimination and the proliferation of misinformation, and argues that ai safety should “be based on the public interest.”
Harris’ trip to Britain adds to her role as a diplomatic force for the administration, as she has visited 20 countries and more than 100 foreign leaders since her election. He also adds to his growing portfolio, which includes some of the most difficult issues facing the United States, such as the immigration crisis at the southern border.
While in London, Harris also plans to discuss the wars in Israel and Ukraine with Sunak. She and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will also have a private dinner with Mr. Sunak and his wife.
Cecilia Kang contributed reports.
