Proactive Investors - US President Joe Biden on Monday issued a new executive order on artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on concerns over safety, privacy, protecting workers, and safeguarding innovation.
The order is the first ever US government action on AI.
The executive order requires companies developing models that pose a serious risk to national security, economic security or public health to notify the federal government when training the model, and mandates sharing the results of all safety tests.
As well, the Commerce Department will develop guidance for content authentication and watermarking to label AI-generated content.
New standards for biological synthesis screening will also be developed to mitigate the threat of AI systems helping to create bioweapons.
While tech companies currently do their own 'red-teaming' of AI products, which involves a series of tests to find potential problems such as disinformation or racism, the executve order will require companies to notify the government and share the red-teaming results for the products that could pose threats to national security before releasing them.
Such regulations would fall under the Defense Production Act, although its enforcement would require legislation by Congress.
Biden has previously said he sees the potential for AI in helping develop new drugs and cures for cancer but has also expressed concern about its drawbacks.
The order also calls for the streamlining of visa processes so that immigrants who are skilled in AI can come to the US to study and work on AI development.
The Oval Office announcement comes just days ahead of a major global summit on AI taking place in London, which Vice President Harris will attend.