US Department of Homeland Security Establishes AI Safety and Security Board
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken a significant step towards ensuring the safe and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) by establishing an AI Safety and Security Board. The board, comprised of 22 members, includes tech firm executives and other experts in the field, as announced in an April 26 press release.
Leading the board are prominent figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, and Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. In addition to tech industry leaders, the board features Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and a diverse group of individuals from various sectors with expertise in AI, critical infrastructure, civil rights, and academia.
Protecting Critical Infrastructure
The primary focus of the AI Safety and Security Board will be to advise the DHS on the deployment of AI technologies across 16 critical infrastructure sectors. These sectors include defense, energy, agriculture, transportation, and internet technology. The board’s efforts are crucial in light of the findings from the DHS’s 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment, which highlighted the potential threats posed by AI-enabled cyber attacks on US infrastructure.
Building on the department’s Artificial Intelligence Roadmap, which outlines plans for the responsible use of AI in homeland security missions, the board aims to ensure that AI deployment prioritizes individual privacy, rights, and civil liberties. This initiative aligns with the Biden administration’s executive order on AI safety issued in October 2023, which directed DHS Secretary Mayorkas to establish the board and enhance AI governance across federal agencies.
The inaugural meeting of the AI Safety and Security Board is scheduled for May, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort to safeguard critical infrastructure and mitigate emerging threats in the realm of artificial intelligence.
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