Responsible Al: A Call by the US Government

A new Biden executive order calls for responsible Al principles that ensure innovation and growth with safety and privacy, without promoting biases of any kind. It's something all of us need to follow.

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As I write this, the US administration has issued an executive order on ensuring the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of AI. This government involvement underscores the rapid adoption of AI, necessitating the need for an executive order — a first of its kind on technology adoption. While the order focuses on the US and its interests in addressing security, the economy, and society, it also provides a framework for industries and organisations to adopt in their AI journey, with a deliberate focus on its core principles. The article attempts to elaborate on the guiding principles and to outline key actions that will shape the industry in the coming years.

As per the executive order, responsible AI adoption with secure and reliable data is to be governed by eight guiding principles and priorities. Let’s look at each one of them to understand what they entail and the expectations they set.

Ensuring AI safety and security 

The first guiding principle of the executive order emphasizes the importance of ensuring that AI is developed and used in a safe and secure manner. This principle recognizes that AI has the potential to cause harm if it is not properly designed, tested, and monitored. To achieve this goal, the order calls for the development of standards and best practices for AI safety and security, as well as mechanisms for identifying and mitigating risks associated with AI. The order also encourages the use of privacy-enhancing technologies and other measures to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access to AI systems.

Promoting responsible innovation, competition, and collaboration