This WIRED piece discusses the steps the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is taking to regulate AI while simultaneously protecting consumer privacy and safety. For AI in the US, few regulations surround how data is used, what consumer privacy should look like, and how to mitigate biases in algorithms. However, Eric Lander and Alondra Nelson propose rights for Americans based on the precepts that “Powerful technologies should be required to respect our democratic values and abide by the central tenet that everyone should be treated fairly. Codifying these ideas can help ensure that.” Currently, several tech companies are working to monitor their own artificial intelligence systems, what Raj Seshadri, President of Data Science at MasterCard, called “a disciplined approach” to create safeguards and ensure ethical usage of algorithms. However, clear regulations codified into law would make this process much faster and easier for companies to know what steps to take.
In the coming months, the Office of Science and Technology Policy is working with experts across industries, academia, and government agencies to create an informed and holistic approach to regulating AI. If you are interested in sharing your views, the Office is accepting responses from the public through a public interest form.