The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken a step toward shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in critical infrastructure by establishing the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board. This move comes in response to voiced concerns about the ethical deployment and security risks associated with AI technologies in essential services and national security sectors.
The newly formed board is a collective of 22 experts and leaders from the realms of technology, academia, and public policy. It aims to advise on best practices for the responsible development and implementation of AI across various critical sectors. Chaired by Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas and initiated by President Biden, this board is tasked with a mission of balancing technological advancements with ethical considerations and security needs.
Board Members
The inaugural members of the board include:
- Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
- Dario Amodei, CEO and Co-Founder of Anthropic
- Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines
- Rumman Chowdhury, CEO of Humane Intelligence
- Alexandra Reeve Givens, President and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology
- Bruce Harrell, Mayor of Seattle
- Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Vicki Hollub, CEO of Occidental Petroleum
- Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA
- Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM
- Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-centered AI Institute
- Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
- Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
- Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe
- Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet
- Arati Prabhakar, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco
- Adam Selipsky, CEO of Amazon Web Services
- Dr. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD
- Nicol Turner Lee, Director at the Brookings Institution
- Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman
- Maya Wiley, CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Focus Areas
The main agenda for the board includes developing robust strategies to mitigate risks associated with AI technologies. This includes:
- Risk Assessment: Evaluating potential threats and vulnerabilities in AI applications within critical infrastructures.
- Policy Recommendations: Crafting guidelines that promote the safe use of AI while ensuring civil liberties are not compromised.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitating a dialogue among industry leaders, policymakers, and civil society to foster a collaborative approach to AI governance.
Ethical Considerations in AI Deployment
A significant aspect of the board’s mandate is to ensure that AI deployment respects rights and liberties. This involves assessing how AI technologies can be used without infringing on privacy and civil rights. The board will work towards creating a framework that integrates protections into the fabric of AI deployment strategies.
“Artificial Intelligence is the most transformative technology of our time, and we must ensure it is deployed safely and responsibly. Microsoft is honored to participate in this important effort and looks forward to sharing both our learnings to date, and our plans going forward. We thank Secretary Mayorkas for including us in this important endeavor and look forward to the continued partnership.”
Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft
Impact on National and Public Safety
The AI Safety and Security Board is also focused on enhancing national and public safety by leveraging AI responsibly. This includes using AI to improve emergency response systems, public health initiatives, and national security measures. By providing expert recommendations, the board aims to ensure that AI acts as a force multiplier in these critical areas, augmenting human capabilities and improving overall efficiency.
The Wrap
The establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board marks a significant move in DHS’ governance of AI technologies within the United States’ critical infrastructure. By bringing together diverse expertise and focusing on both innovation and ethical considerations, the board is poised to guide the country towards a safer, and secure future with AI.
As these technologies continue to evolve, the board’s ongoing work will be focused toward navigating AI deployment in sensitive and impactful sectors.
