An Overview of the White House’s Executive Order on AI

Setting New Standards for Safety, Security, and Privacy

The Executive Order on AI issued by President Biden on October 30, 2023, outlines an initial strategy for responsible AI innovation, underscoring a commitment to harnessing AI’s potential while safeguarding against its risks.

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AI Safety and Security Standards:

• Sharing Safety Test Results: Developers of significant AI systems must report safety test results and relevant information to the U.S. government, particularly for AI models that pose a risk to national security or public health.
• Red Team Testing for AI Safety: The Executive Order calls for the implementation of extensive red-team testing, conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to rigorously evaluate AI systems for potential vulnerabilities and ensure their safety prior to public release.
• Standards for Biological Synthesis Screening: Setting new stringent standards to prevent AI from being used to engineer dangerous biological materials, with an emphasis on life-science projects receiving federal funding.
• Detecting AI-Generated Content: Establishing guidelines to distinguish AI-created content and authenticating official content, involving the Department of Commerce in developing methods for watermarking AI-generated content.
• Advanced Cybersecurity Program: Leveraging AI to identify and rectify vulnerabilities in critical software, part of the ongoing AI Cyber Challenge to enhance network and software security.

Privacy Protections:

• Development of Privacy-Preserving AI Techniques: Prioritizing federal support for AI methods that maintain privacy, particularly those allowing for the training of AI systems while preserving data confidentiality.
• Research in Privacy Technologies: Focusing on advancing cryptographic tools and other technologies to protect individual privacy, funded and promoted by the National Science Foundation.
• Strengthening Data Collection and Use Guidelines: Reviewing and enhancing guidelines on federal agencies’ collection and use of personal data, especially that obtained from commercial sources.