President Biden’s team is preparing to overhaul the federal government’s approach to artificial intelligence this fall, using new rules and plans to direct the adoption of the emerging tech.
The administration is looking to set AI policy with a fresh executive order and new rules focused on federal agencies, pressing ahead of Congress, which is drafting AI legislation and preoccupied with leadership battles.
Federal Chief Information Security Officer Chris DeRusha previewed Mr. Biden’s plans for AI on Tuesday, saying an executive order is coming this fall as an “initial step” on the governance of AI.
Mr. DeRusha said at the Google Public Sector Forum that the executive order will be the first action toward “putting together the rules and safeguards, research and development, the talent plan” for AI.
He said the executive order will be quickly followed by guidelines for federal agencies to follow regarding the responsible use of AI.
Before Mr. Biden hands down the new AI rules, the White House will seek public input.
“That’s something we’re actually going to put out for public comment because a little bit — we have a theory of the case, we have a direct policy, but we need to get feedback from everybody, from our colleagues in the departments and agencies, from the private sector supporting them and from this industry at large,” Mr. DeRusha said.
The executive branch is already bracing for sweeping changes and is taking steps to shape the AI industry.
Federal cyber officials made an action plan to respond immediately to Mr. Biden’s forthcoming AI order, according to Jen Easterly, leader of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Ms. Easterly said last month her team wanted to get ahead of what Mr. Biden would ask it to do, and her focus was on AI tools’ application in cybersecurity.
Other federal officials are looking to hold sway over the growing AI sector.
The Commerce Department broadened export controls on Tuesday to thwart China from acquiring AI computer chips and equipment. The export controls developed last year were revised to better counter the use of the chips for military applications.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters the new controls are intended to protect tech that has clear implications for national security, and the vast majority of semiconductors will remain unrestricted.
“When we identify national security or human rights threats, we will act decisively and in concert with our allies,” Ms. Raimondo said.
Several other federal offices will compete to help chart AI policy, and lawmakers want their say in Mr. Biden’s plans too.
Democratic lawmakers are pressuring Mr. Biden to ensure his forthcoming executive order advances “racial equity” and protections against discrimination. A group of 16 congressional Democrats wrote to Mr. Biden last week to ensure liberal priorities make their way into his executive actions on AI.
Mr. DeRusha said Tuesday that concerns about AI making inequitable decisions were top of mind for Biden administration officials working on the new AI policy.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
