Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced several initiatives aimed at introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into the public sector. The announcements include an updated National AI R&D Strategic Plan, a request for public input on AI, and a report on AI’s impact on education. The White House also hosted a listening session with workers from a variety of sectors, including call centers, trucking, warehousing, health care, and gig work, in order to hear their perspectives on automated technology.
VentureBeat discussed the relevany of these initiatives with Sarah Myers West, the managing director of the AI Now Institute and former senior adviser on AI at the Federal Trade Commission. West praised the White House for its “swift pace of movement” and for acknowledging the various risks and opportunities associated with AI. However, West noted that the administration had not yet addressed the potential harms posed by big tech companies’ monopolization of the AI industry.
West also discussed the upcoming AI regulations, noting that there will need to be a multi-layered approach to enforcement in order to effectively reign in AI’s potential abuses. This will include agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau conducting investigations and issuing regulations, as well as state attorneys general opening cases and the passage of laws on the state level.
Finally, West expressed concern regarding Open AI’s blog post on the potential dangers of super intelligence. West believes that these discussions distract from the tangible issues posed by AI in the present moment, such as the downward pressure on wages and workers’ rights.
The AI Now Institute is a research center that focuses on the far-reaching implications of AI and other advanced emerging technologies. They are committed to working with stakeholders across academia, industry, and government in order to ensure that these technologies are developed in a responsible and ethical manner. Sarah Myers West is the managing director of the institute and is an expert on AI in the public sector. She was previously the senior adviser on AI at the Federal Trade Commission and has written extensively on the legal and technological challenges of emerging technologies.
