A U.S. Commerce Department agency has launched an investigation into how businesses and regulators can ensure that artificial intelligence systems are reliable, legal, and ethical.
“The goal of this process is to come up with recommendations based on what we hear from experts in this field about what government can do to ensure we’re promoting responsible AI innovation,” said Alan Davidson, NTIA’s head, in an interview.
Chatbots, which are computer programs that are designed to convincingly simulate human conversation, are quickly becoming an integral part of daily life. The rapid adoption of ChatGPT, the most popular chatbot at the moment, has prompted thousands of AI experts and leaders to call for a halt to the technology until proper safeguards are in place. To compete with ChatGPT, which was created by research lab OpenAI, Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Microsoft Inc. have introduced their own chatbots. Last year, Meta Platforms Inc. also released a bot.
The NTIA is inviting businesses, civil society organizations, researchers, and the general public to participate in the process. Critics argue that AI systems can perpetuate real-world biases, confuse and deceive consumers, spread misinformation, and even violate existing laws if proper government and industry oversight is not provided.
The NTIA effort is the latest US government initiative to establish AI standards. Last year, the White House released a blueprint for a “AI Bill of Rights,” which called for built-in privacy safeguards, enhanced safety measures, and anti-discrimination safeguards. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has finalized voluntary AI guidance that encourages developers to implement checks on their systems in order to increase public trust in the technology. Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission has stated publicly that it is investigating any consumer protection or antitrust issues related to AI.
Davidson stated that the NTIA’s process will add “another layer” to the work already done by the White House and NIST on the best way to audit AI.
“This is an investigation into how we might use that risk framework to promote good auditing and assessment practices that help people trust the systems that companies are building,” Davidson explained.
Davidson stated that the investigation had been in the works for months prior to the ChatGPT hype resulting in a public reckoning about the future of AI. However, he added that his firm hopes to capitalize on the momentum.
Previous administrations have chastised NTIA for acting slowly and failing to fully exercise its authority. Davidson, on the other hand, sees it as his mission to ensure that
NTIA provides comprehensive technology advice to the White House and Congress.