As the artificial intelligence industry gains more traction, people are coming to a realization that it needs to be regulated in some way. With fears of any potential misuses of the technology, it may be necessary for governments and those who build AI systems to come together to find ways to control it. CEOs in the industry such as Sam Altman of OpenAI have been especially vocal about the need for regulations, and even the White House has begun looking into it by issuing a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
The difficulty of this task is twofold; there needs to be a balance between industry innovation and the protection of rights. Too much control may harm the advancement of the technology, while too little could lead to dangerous outcomes. This is particularly difficult to navigate because we rely upon countries around the world to adhere to the same regulations, and many are not yet on board.
To help guide this process, the White House has published the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, which acknowledges the complex task ahead. It is non-binding and not technically a policy, but it is a place to start. The document contains a number of points that are meant to help with this task, ranging from protecting rights of citizens to preserving the development of industry innovation.
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory founded by well known tech figures such as Elan Musk, Sam Altman, and Peter Thiel. OpenAI aims to “advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return”. OpenAI is an incredibly influential body in the AI industry, making Sam Altman’s voice a very important one in the conversation of AI regulation.
Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI. He warned of the potentially devastating effects if AI went wrong and called for help from the government to work together and ensure it does not happen. Not only was he present at the White House earlier this month, but at his appearance before a US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee he stressed the need for regulation. He has been a vocal advocate for the use of safeguards, calling for ethical use of the technology and prevent the AI from going down the wrong path. Altman’s words have served as an important point of reference for the AI conversation, both within the industry and government.
