We must act quickly to shape the future of AI

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The author is US Secretary of State and US Secretary of Commerce

Abraham Lincoln once said: “In the history of the world, few inventions and discoveries have been of unique value. , , In facilitating all other inventions and discoveries.” Lincoln was talking about the written word and later the printing press. But today, we are living through yet another such invention: artificial intelligence.

Powerful Generative AI systems like GPT-4 are ushering in a new era of this technology. They are revolutionizing knowledge production: vastly increasing the ability of machines to generate original content, perform complex tasks, and solve important problems. They are also dramatically lowering the barriers for people to access AI and its benefits.

This new era brings with it serious potential threats. These include the risk of AI being used to generate misinformation, promote prejudice and discrimination, be misused for oppressive or destabilizing purposes, or disseminate knowledge to create bioweapons or conduct cyberattacks.

But even with these risks – which we are committed to mitigating – AI has an exciting potential to improve people’s lives and help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, from curing cancer to mitigating the effects of climate change to solving global food insecurity.

The future of AI – whether it makes our societies more or less equitable, opens up breakthroughs or becomes a tool of authoritarians – is up to us. The question is not whether to use it or not, but how to use it.

The United States, being home to many of the leading companies, technologies and minds driving the AI ​​revolution, has the capacity and responsibility to lead its governance. We are committed to doing this in partnership with others around the world to ensure that the future reflects our shared values ​​and vision for this technology.

We have already taken action to guide the use of AI. We have created a blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights with principles for designing and using automated systems, and developed an AI risk management framework to help improve user security.

Last week, President Joe Biden announced the next step with a set of commitments from leading companies designed to enhance safety, security and trust. These commitments will reduce the risks of AI, including abuse, and support new technologies and standards to differentiate between human- and AI-generated content. They will encourage companies and individuals to report on the system’s capabilities and limitations, and facilitate information sharing. And they will spur the development of AI systems designed to solve society’s biggest challenges.

The commitments provide a starting point for action to limit near-term risks while fostering innovation. They will be complemented by major efforts with partners around the world.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to work with the G7 through the Japan-led Hiroshima Process to expand and internationalize these commitments. We want AI governance to be guided by democratic values ​​and those who embrace them, and G7-led action can inform an international code of conduct for private actors and governments, as well as general regulatory principles for states. As we coordinate globally, we will also align our domestic approach in fora such as the US-EU Business and Technology Council.

We will work closely with other governments to build a shared understanding of long-term AI risks and how to limit them. The US looks forward to participating in the UK’s Global Summit on AI Security and other opportunities for global partnership to build a more secure future.

The United States is committed to putting AI to work for, and designing governance with, developing countries whose voices matter to the global discourse. India will play an important role in this, including in the Global Partnership on AI. We are also working on inclusivity for AI through discussions with the United Nations.

We will partner with countries around the world, as well as the private sector and civil society, to advance one key goal of the commitments: creating AI systems that improve people’s lives. Today, we are on track to meet only 12 percent of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. AI can change that trajectory by accelerating efforts to provide clean water and sanitation, eradicate poverty, advance public health, and advance other development goals.

To shape the future of AI, we must act quickly. We must also act collectively. No one country or company can shape the future of AI alone. America has taken an important step — but only with united focus, ingenuity, and cooperation from the international community will we be able to fully and safely harness the potential of AI.