Nvidia, OpenAI, and Amazon are among the 200 companies that have joined the newly formed US AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC). This consortium, announced by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, will operate within the existing US AI Safety Institute (USAISI) and bring together various stakeholders from academia, developers, government officials, civil society, and industry representatives. The purpose of AISIC is to provide guidance on the implementation of safety measures for AI products and services.
Secretary Raimondo emphasized the role of the US government in setting AI standards and developing tools to mitigate risks and harness the potential of artificial intelligence. The Biden administration, known for its consensus-driven approach to AI regulation, aims to establish safety standards while safeguarding the innovation ecosystem. AISIC aligns with this approach by facilitating collaboration between academia and major technology companies to establish AI safety norms before introducing new regulations.
The Biden administration has been actively engaging with tech giants to create common standards for safety and transparency in the AI sector. Initiatives such as promoting watermarking to identify AI-generated content and participating in international conferences have been undertaken to establish international norms for the use of advanced AI models.
AISIC has already gained significant support from leading companies, with Amazon pledging $5 million in compute credits to its parent organization, USAISI. According to David Zapolsky, Amazon’s senior vice-president for global public policy, this contribution will enable the development of tools and methodologies for organizations to evaluate the safety of their foundational AI models.
The establishment of AISIC demonstrates the Biden administration’s commitment to fostering collaboration between academia and industry in the development of safe and trustworthy AI. Laurie Locascio, the director of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, highlighted the importance of aligned approaches in AI research and emphasized the consortium’s role in integrating the US AI Safety Institute’s research into the wider community.
The formation of AISIC marks another milestone in the Biden administration’s efforts to ensure the responsible and secure adoption of AI technology. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, including prominent companies like Nvidia, OpenAI, and Apple, the consortium aims to shape AI safety standards and pave the way for future regulations.
