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America’s Imperative for Advanced AI Policy
President Joe Biden emphasized the urgent need for increased attention to the power of artificial intelligence during his recent State of the Union address. Alongside this, Biden highlighted the necessity for stronger privacy laws and stricter penalties for drug trafficking as critical components of his policy agenda.
Policy Priorities and Call for Action
During his address to a joint session of Congress, President Biden underscored the importance of further legislative action. He emphasized the need to enhance penalties related to fentanyl trafficking and advocated for bipartisan privacy legislation to protect children online. Additionally, Biden called for the responsible exploration of AI’s potential while also implementing safeguards against its potential misuse, including the prohibition of AI voice impersonation.
Biden’s push for AI regulation follows a concerning incident in January where his voice was manipulated in an AI-generated deepfake robocall aimed at New Hampshire voters. The company responsible for the deepfake, Lingo Telecom, faced immediate action from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which issued a cease and desist order. Subsequently, the FCC banned the use of AI in robocalls amidst the ramp-up to the 2024 election season.
The FCC cited the growing prevalence of these deceptive calls as a threat due to their capacity to disseminate misinformation by mimicking the voices of prominent figures, including celebrities, political candidates, and individuals’ close associates.
National Efforts to Combat AI Misuse
Recognizing the escalating risks posed by AI-generated deepfakes, the Biden Administration has taken proactive measures to address this issue. In collaboration with major generative AI developers such as OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, Anthropic, Hugging Face, IBM, Stability AI, Amazon, Meta, and Inflection, the White House has spearheaded initiatives to promote responsible AI development.
Last year, the Administration convened a summit focusing on the responsible use of generative AI technologies. In February, Biden’s administration announced strategies involving watermarking and cryptography to counter political disinformation linked to AI manipulation. Furthermore, the launch of the AI Safety Institute Consortium, which includes prominent industry players like Amazon, Google, Apple, Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia, demonstrates a concerted effort to address AI-related challenges.
Broad Consensus on AI Regulation
Biden’s concern regarding AI’s potential risks is echoed by former President Donald Trump, who described AI as “scary.” In a separate development, Pope Francis, alongside Biden and Trump, fell victim to AI-generated deepfake images, leading him to caution against the unregulated expansion of generative AI.
“We need to be aware of the rapid transformations now taking place and to manage them in ways that safeguard fundamental human rights and respect the institutions and laws that promote integral human development,” Pope Francis stated in a January sermon. “Artificial intelligence ought to serve our best human potential and our highest aspirations, not compete with them.”
Given the broad consensus among world leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, it is evident that robust regulations and ethical frameworks are essential to harnessing the benefits of AI while mitigating its inherent risks.
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