The White House has issued a mandate for all federal agencies to appoint chief artificial intelligence officers to supervise the government's diverse AI strategies and mitigate potential risks associated with the rapidly advancing technologies.
This instruction is a component of a comprehensive government-wide policy from the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as revealed by Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday, subsequent to a far-reaching AI executive order signed by President Biden in October. The White House is striving to propel the federal government—recognized more for its sluggish bureaucracy than its capacity to embrace state-of-the-art technology—to stay abreast of the developments in the realm of artificial intelligence.
"We have instructed all federal agencies to assign a chief AI officer possessing the requisite experience, knowledge, and authority to supervise all—emphasizing 'all'—AI technologies utilized by that agency," stated Harris on Wednesday in embargoed comments regarding the new policy. "This is to ensure that AI is utilized responsibly, recognizing the necessity for senior leaders throughout our government who are expressly responsible for supervising AI adoption and utilization."
New OMB Policy Requires Federal Agencies to Establish AI Governance Boards
The new OMB policy mandates federal agencies to set up AI governance boards to coordinate and establish rules for AI technology usage within each agency. The White House has confirmed that the departments of Defense, Housing and Urban Development, State, and Veterans Affairs have already formed these governance boards. Additionally, the Biden administration aims to recruit 100 AI professionals across agencies by the summer.
By December, federal agencies must implement "concrete safeguards" when using AI in a manner that could impact the rights or safety of Americans.
For instance, if the VA intends to utilize AI in VA hospitals for patient diagnosis, it must first prove that the AI does not generate racially biased diagnoses, as stated by Harris on Wednesday.
The White House will also mandate federal agencies to disclose a list of their AI systems online, along with a risk assessment and management plan for those systems. This list must be published and updated annually.
"President Biden and I aim for these domestic policies to set an example for global action," Harris emphasized.
Supervising the federal government's adoption of AI technologies is among the responsibilities Vice President Harris has undertaken. In November, she delivered a significant policy speech in London outlining the U.S. government's vision for AI's future.
Artificial Intelligence Poses Challenges for President Biden
President Biden has been facing challenges with artificial intelligence (AI) recently. AI technology was used to create fake robocalls impersonating the president, which were sent to voters in New Hampshire. Additionally, there have been fake and manipulated videos of President Biden circulating online.
