Biden’s Homeland Security team tapped the best technology for the AI defense board
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the formation of an Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board comprised of technology CEOs, academics and influential business leaders.
The purpose of the new board, chaired by US President Joseph Biden, is to advise DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the White House on issues related to artificial intelligence. Specifically, the board will “develop recommendations to assist critical infrastructure stakeholders” and “prevent and develop AI-related critical services that impact national or economic security, public health, or safety.”
CEOs from Adobe, Alphabet, Anthropic, AMD, Amazon Web Services, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, Nvidia, Delta Air Lines, Humane Intelligence, Occidental Petroleum and Northrop Grumman comprise the board's business sector. Scholars from universities, civil rights and humanitarian institutions, the mayor of Seattle, Washington and the governor of Maryland.
Notably, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg or Tesla CEO Elon Musk are not seen as board members, despite running artificial intelligence companies linked to other tech companies on the list.
Secretary Mirkas said in his article, he is grateful for the participation of scholars in the USA sector.
“Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology that can advance our national interest in unprecedented ways. At the same time, it presents real risks—risks that we can mitigate by following best practices and taking other studied concrete steps. I am grateful that such accomplished leaders are donating their time and expertise to the Board to help ensure our nation's critical infrastructure — the essential services Americans rely on every day.
According to a document published by DHS, the board's primary mission is to promote the “responsible development and deployment” of AI technologies.
While the AI sector continues to grow in the US market, it remains largely unregulated compared to the EU tech industry. Analysts question whether Europe's more hands-on approach to regulating firms operating in the economic environment would better serve citizens' security and privacy.
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