Taylor Swift Deepfakes: US to propose massive changes to how AI companies report safety tests

Not just on economics, Taylor Swift will apparently have an effect on how the US government regulates AI as well. After the po-star’s AI-generated pornographic deepfakes went viral, social media platforms have been scrambling to stop the dissemination of these images. Now, the White House too is jumping in, and is talking about some new regulations to take on deepfakes. The plan is to have these AI companies adhere to certain standards and regulations in order to keep public safety in check. The Biden administration is set to implement a requirement compelling major AI system developers to disclose their safety test results to the government. This initiative is part of the progress review on the executive order signed by President Joe Biden three months ago, aimed at effectively managing the rapidly evolving technology. Scheduled for Monday, the White House AI Council will evaluate the achievements of the 90-day goals outlined in the executive order. A crucial aspect of this mandate under the Defense Production Act is that AI companies must share essential information, including safety test results, with the Commerce Department. White House Special Adviser on AI, Ben Buchanan, emphasised the government’s intention to ensure the safety of AI systems before their release to the public. He stated in an interview, “The president has been very clear that companies need to meet that bar.” While software companies have committed to specific categories for safety tests, there is currently no common standard for these tests. To address this, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as outlined in Biden’s October order, will develop a uniform framework for assessing safety. Recognizing AI’s significance in economic and national security considerations, the Biden administration is actively engaging with congressional legislation and collaborating with other countries and the European Union to establish rules for managing AI technology. The Commerce Department has taken a step further by developing a draft rule concerning US cloud companies that provide servers to foreign AI developers. Nine federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Transportation, Treasury, and Health and Human Services, have conducted risk assessments related to AI’s use in critical national infrastructure, such as the electric grid. In addition, the government has increased its hiring of AI experts and data scientists within federal agencies to effectively navigate the transformative effects and potential risks associated with AI. Buchanan clarified the administration’s stance, stating, “We’re not trying to upend the apple cart there, but we are trying to make sure the regulators are prepared to manage this technology.” (With inputs from agencies)