In a landmark move, President Biden has issued an executive order requiring AI developers to disclose safety findings to the US government. This action is being hailed by the White House as the most substantial measures ever taken by a government to promote AI safety. This move puts the US at the forefront of discussions on AI governance, a position the UK government had hoped to claim through a summit it is hosting this week.
The summit, commencing on 1 November at Bletchley Park, has been instigated by growing apprehensions that the swift advancement of AI systems might result in the creation of more lethal bio-weapons and more debilitating cyber-attacks. Alex Krasodomski, a senior research associate at Chatham House, shared with the BBC that the executive order emphasises the US’s self-perception as a leader in addressing such threats.
Bruce Reed, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, stated that the US has issued “the most robust set of actions any government in the world has ever undertaken on AI safety, security, and trust”. The Biden administration is also taking proactive measures to strengthen its AI workforce, hence, workers with AI expertise can now find relevant vacancies in the federal government on AI.gov.
While Mr Krasodomski acknowledges the importance of the order, he believes it may not align with the UK’s objectives and goals for the summit. He noted that the UK summit is referenced in the executive order under the section titled ‘advancing American leadership abroad’. This suggests that the US perceives itself as a dominant player in the global AI arena, alongside China, driven primarily by US companies.
The UK government’s AI Summit, billed as a “world-first”, is set to welcome US Vice President Kamala Harris and senior executives from leading US tech companies this week. Hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the summit aims to discuss AI safety amidst escalating concerns over the implications of so-called frontier AI. Notable attendees include President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The UK is striving to establish itself as a global pioneer in mitigating the risks posed by this potent technology. However, the EU is currently passing an AI act, China has already implemented several stringent AI rules, and the US has now issued this order. Furthermore, according to Reuters, the Group of Seven (G7) industrial countries are reportedly reaching a consensus on a code of conduct for companies developing advanced AI systems. This flurry of activity raises questions about what topics will be left for discussion at the Bletchley Park summit this week.
