TLDR:
Google’s global affairs chief, Kent Walker, believes that global alignment on regulating artificial intelligence (AI) is progressing well, with a focus on core principles and positive alignment among lawmakers in Europe and the U.S. Meanwhile, there is an emphasis on creating regulatory frameworks that balance innovation and safety, with a call for case-specific regulations. The Biden administration is looking to enforce existing laws to address fairness and justice in AI usage.
Key Points:
- Google’s Kent Walker sees positive progress in global alignment on AI regulation
- Focus on balancing innovation and safety in AI regulation, with a call for case-specific regulations
- The Biden administration aims to enforce existing laws to address fairness and justice in AI usage
Article:
Google’s president of global affairs, Kent Walker, noted that global alignment on how to govern artificial intelligence (AI) has gone surprisingly well, with a great deal of alignment around core principles among lawmakers in Europe and the U.S. Walker emphasized the need for a concerted effort to move forward in regulating AI, highlighting progress such as new AI rules in Europe and the White House executive order on AI in the U.S.
There is a push for creating a regulatory framework that is enabling, especially as China makes advancements in large language models. The focus is on striking a balance with copyright law, addressing privacy concerns, and avoiding a fragmented system of state laws. While the U.S. has not yet passed federal AI laws, bipartisan working groups in the House and Senate are considering regulations.
During a panel discussion, speakers emphasized the importance of thoughtful regulation to avoid stifling innovation, with a call for frameworks that ensure safe use of AI. The goal is to establish a level of safety and trust in accessing information similar to picking up food at a store. The discussion also highlighted the need for case-specific regulations rather than technology-specific ones to create effective policies.
Under the Biden administration, federal agencies have pledged to enforce existing laws to uphold fairness and justice in AI usage, filling in gaps rather than starting from scratch. The focus is on ensuring that every agency understands the implications of AI and where existing laws may fall short, rather than creating a separate AI agency.