(Credit: Kent Nishimura / Stringer / Getty Images News)
The Department of Homeland Security today released a framework for using AI in critical infrastructure, such as emergency services, the power grid, and water and IT systems.
"The framework, if widely adopted, will go a long way to better ensure the safety and security of critical services that deliver clean water, consistent power, internet access, and so much more," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on a call with reporters.
The effort stems from President Biden's 2023 Executive Order on AI. Biden tasked Mayorkas with forming a board to discuss the use of AI, which came together in April, the Associated Press reports. The group includes OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and more.
The framework begins to answer an essential question: What will these companies do, and how will it benefit the American public?
(Credit: DHS)The 35-page document carves out a game plan to use AI to enhance critical infrastructure, with extensive feedback from a range of stakeholders. It proposes a set of "voluntary responsibilities" for the major players: AI companies, cloud computing providers, critical infrastructure operators, civic society, and the public sector.
"It is, quite frankly, exceedingly rare to have leading AI developers engaged directly with civil society on issues that are at the forefront of today's AI debates," says Mayorkas.
(Credit: DHS)But will any of this happen when President-elect Donald Trump takes office? He's expected to take a hands-off approach to AI, with an emphasis on deregulation. Mayorkas also cautioned about over-regulating so a second Trump administration may find common ground in this effort.
"It is quite important that [AI regulation] should not impair our leadership in the world and not suffocate our inventiveness," Mayorkas said. "This framework...could ward off precipitous regulation or legislation that does not move at the speed of business and does not embrace and support our innovative leadership."
But whether the framework persists ultimately depends on Trump. "The President-elect will determine what policies to promulgate and implement, and that is, of course, the President-elect's prerogative," Mayorkas said. "But right now, we have one president, and we are executing accordingly."
Even if Trump strikes down the effort, Mayorkas said he would expect the 23 board members who signed onto the plan to implement it and "catalyze other organizations in their respective spheres...to adopt and implement the guidelines as well."
In July, many of the companies involved here joined forces for a coalition intended to enhance trust and security in the use and deployment of AI. The Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI) will be hosted by OASIS Open, a nonprofit promoting open standards development. Sponsors include Amazon, Anthropic, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI.