OpenAI, Google, and Other Tech Giants Join White House Pledge to Address AI Risks
In a significant move to address the potential risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), seven influential companies specializing in AI technologies have voluntarily committed to a pledge proposed by the White House. The companies involved include Google, Amazon, Microsoft, as well as OpenAI, the creator of the popular chatbot GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer).
Under this pledge, the companies have agreed to allow independent security experts to conduct tests on their AI systems before releasing them to the public. They have further committed to sharing data on the safety of these systems with both governments and academic institutions. Additionally, the companies have pledged to develop a system to alert the public when AI-generated content, such as images, videos, or text, is being disseminated. This technique, known as watermarking, aims to combat the spread of false information.
This voluntary agreement marks a significant step by President Biden’s administration in addressing the potential threats posed by AI. It highlights the administration’s emphasis on AI regulation and aims to raise industry standards regarding AI safety, security, and reliability.
Several startups actively involved in AI development, including Anthropic and Inflection, have also signed the pledge. The participation of such companies demonstrates the widespread recognition of the importance of addressing the risks associated with AI.
Notably, some of the signatory companies have already taken actions aligned with the White House pledge. Prior to the widespread deployment of its GPT-4 system, OpenAI invited external experts to conduct red teaming exercises to evaluate its technology. Similarly, Google has revealed their ongoing development of watermarking techniques as a means to address concerns about misinformation propagated by AI systems.
President Biden is set to discuss AI in a speech, while top executives from the participating companies will meet with White House officials. The administration is currently reviewing the role of AI across different government agencies, emphasizing AI as a top priority.
While the pledge has been welcomed by consumer advocacy groups, caution has been expressed regarding the commitment of tech companies to uphold their pledges in terms of safety and security. Jim Steyer, the founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, emphasized the need for strong regulation and responsible actions by tech companies.
Overall, the voluntary pledge represents a significant development in the government’s effort to regulate the rapidly advancing field of AI. While legislative action is still needed, the Biden administration aims to capitalize on these voluntary commitments as an interim measure to address the challenges posed by AI technology.
