Biden administration to unveil landmark AI executive order

The Biden-Harris administration will unveil an executive order on AI at the White House on 30 October 2023. Building on previous ‘voluntary commitments‘ from leading AI companies to ensure the technology is designed safely, responsibly, and transparently, the executive order will address a broad range of AI-related issues. According to the Washington Post, before any federal government employee can use them, advanced AI systems would have to be assessed for safety, responsibility, and transparency. The National Institute of Standards and Technology would be in charge of the inspections.

In addition, the executive order is expected to relax immigration rules for highly skilled workers in order to strengthen the country’s position in emerging technologies and accelerate AI research and development.

Why does it matter?

The move by President Biden is considered a significant step in regulating AI in the US. It could shape the development of AI systems in critical areas of national security, cybersecurity, and consumer protection and boost the US’s technological competitiveness. The executive order is a clear signal that the federal government will leverage its purchasing power to enforce stringent requirements on AI models before any government agency can utilize them.

The announcement follows the US administration’s previous efforts to oversee the risks posed by AI and to protect Americans’ rights and safety. The upcoming White House event will happen as the global AI agenda accelerates. A major AI safety summit is being convened by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Nov. 1–2, and the EU is finally closing in on its AI Act.