In a meeting with AI experts, researchers, and advocates in San Francisco, Biden claimed that the technology is already bringing about “change in every part of American life, often in ways we don’t notice.” AI assists in internet searches and navigation and has the potential to alter how people teach and learn.
Artificial intelligence, according to President Biden, offers “enormous promise” but also poses hazards, including the potential for job losses and the spread of misinformation. These vulnerabilities are issues his government needs to address. Before the closed-door discussion with AI experts at the Fairmont Hotel, Biden told reporters that “In seizing this moment, we need to manage the risks to our society, to our economy, and to our national security.”
Biden stated that, as a result of social media’s growth, people have already witnessed the damage that advanced technology is capable of causing when not used responsibly. He admitted he still had a lot to learn about AI, though. At the time of the meeting, Biden was stepping up efforts to gather money for his 2024 reelection campaign, especially from tech millionaires. He attended two fundraising events on Monday while in Silicon Valley, one of which was co-hosted by businessman Reid Hoffman, who has many connections to AI companies.
A venture capitalist who serves on the board of major firms, including Microsoft, which have invested heavily in AI, was among the experts that President Biden met with on Tuesday. The group also included critics of Big Tech, such as co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centred AI Institute Fei-Fei Li, executive director and co-founder of the Centre for Humane Technology Tristan Harris, the Algorithmic Justice League’s founder Joy Buolamwini, and the children’s advocate who founded and runs Common Sense Media, Jim Steyer. Additionally, California Governor Gavin Newsom was present at the AI event.
Jim Steyer commented on President Biden’s engagement during the AI conversation and noted that the President discussed the potential impact of AI on democracy. Steyer referred to the discussion as a “moonshot moment” and emphasized the importance of not allowing a small group of large companies to drive the future of AI, regardless of their intentions. He claimed that after discussing the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI with the president, he noted that technology could worsen mental health issues in young people.
The experts include several who have worked for significant tech companies. Li served as the director of Twitter and managed Google Cloud’s AI and machine learning initiatives prior to joining Stanford. Who is developing AI, according to Li, should be a key factor for Biden to think about. She referred to the good effects of technology on health, education, and the environment and stated, “Our message to the president is to invest into the public sector because this will ensure a healthy ecosystem.”
President Biden is engaging with both AI researchers and tech leaders, while also seeking donations from wealthy individuals and considering the potential risks of rapidly evolving technology. Despite criticizing digital firms, executives and staff from major companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Meta (Facebook’s parent company) made significant financial contributions to his 2020 presidential campaign. The Biden administration has focused on addressing the potential dangers of AI, publishing a “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights” and meeting with representatives from the tech industry to promote responsible innovation. Additionally, the government has taken actions to address AI risks and advanced initiatives to ensure the responsible development of AI-powered tools.
Major tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta use AI in various products like virtual assistants, video recommendations, and audio transposition. The success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot sparked competition between these companies, leading to concerns from tech professionals, researchers, lawmakers, and regulators that new AI products may be released before they are safe due to the race to enhance AI technology. Leaders in technology, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, have called for a halt to the training of advanced AI systems in AI labs and for collaboration between developers and lawmakers. Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer of AI, left his position at Google to speak more openly about the dangers of AI.
Legislators and regulators have found it difficult to keep up with the rapid advancement of technology. In California, Newsom has made it clear that he intends to be cautious when it comes to regulating state-level AI. At a symposium in Los Angeles in May, he declared that declaring oneself “without first seeking to understand” is “the biggest mistake” politicians can make. Legislation to combat algorithmic discrimination, establish an office of artificial intelligence, and form a working group to deliver a report on AI to the Legislature are just a few of the proposals put forth by California lawmakers.
Businesses using AI to replace employees is a concern for artists and writers due to ethical considerations such as plagiarism and copyright violation. Hollywood studios have the ability to use AI, but the Writer’s Guild of America, which is currently on strike, proposed guidelines in March. The proposed guidelines state that language produced by AI chatbots cannot be considered in determining writing credits. Disinformation experts are also worried about the possible misuse of AI to spread political propaganda and conspiracy theories, which has been a problem on social media. They fear that the text- and image-generating capabilities of AI will make it easier and cheaper for malicious actors to spread false information.
Some popular political advertisements already use AI. An AI-generated video advertisement created by the Republican National Committee depicts a bleak future that would allegedly come to pass if Biden is reelected.
Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have also been used to fabricate audio samples of politicians and celebrities saying things they never said. A video that looked to be AI-generated photos of former President Trump hugging Dr. Anthony Fauci—a target of COVID-19 conspiracy theorists—was uploaded by the campaign of Republican presidential contender and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Tech firms have no problem with enforcing AI regulations. They claim to support regulation while still wanting to influence it. Microsoft published a 42-page research paper on managing AI in May, stating that no business is exempt from the law. The paper provides a “blueprint for the public governance of AI” that defines five recommendations, including the establishment of “safety breaks” for AI systems that regulate the water supply, the power grid, and other essential infrastructure.
In the same month, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, testified before Congress and urged for AI regulation, expressing his concern that the technology industry may cause significant harm to the world. He warned that if AI technology goes wrong, it can have severe consequences. Altman has met with world leaders from various regions and joined other leaders and scientists in signing a one-sentence letter in May, which stated that AI poses a risk of extinction for humanity.
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