President Biden has issued the first-ever National Security Memorandum (NSM) on AI, outlining how the country is approaching the technology from a security perspective.
The memorandum, which builds on Biden’s previous executive order on AI, is based on the premise that advanced AI developments will have a significant impact on national security and foreign policy in the near future.
Security experts suggest the consequences are already being felt. “AI is already impacting national security as we know more and more attackers are using AI to create larger numbers and more complex attacks, especially in the areas of social engineering and disinformation,” said Melissa Ruzzi, AI director at AppOmni.
At its core, the NSM outlines three main objectives: establishing U.S. leadership in secure AI development, leveraging AI technologies for national security, and advancing international governance frameworks.
“Our competitors seek to upend U.S. AI leadership and have deployed economic and technological espionage in efforts to steal U.S. technology,” the memorandum states, making the protection of U.S. AI innovations a “top intelligence priority ” is exalted.
The document formally designates the AI Safety Institute as the primary government point of contact for the AI industry. This institute will be staffed with technical experts and will maintain close partnerships with national security agencies, including the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.
“The actions mentioned in the memo are excellent starting points to get a good picture of the status quo and obtain enough information to make decisions based on data, rather than jumping to conclusions and making decisions based on vague assumptions,” Ruzzi explains.
However, Ruzzi cautions that “the data to be collected on the actions is not trivial, and even with the data, assumptions and trade-offs will be necessary for the final decision-making. Making decisions after collecting data is the big challenge.”
In a notable step to democratize AI research, the memorandum strengthens support for the National AI Research Resource Pilot Program. This initiative aims to expand AI research capabilities from large technology companies to universities, civil society organizations and small businesses.
The NSM introduces the Framework to Advance AI Governance and Risk Management in National Security (PDF), which sets out comprehensive guidelines for implementing AI in national security applications. These guidelines mandate strict risk assessment procedures and safeguards against privacy invasions, bias, discrimination and human rights violations.
Security considerations play a prominent role in the framework, with Ruzzi highlighting its importance: “AI cyber security is crucial – we know that if AI is misconfigured it can pose risks similar to misconfigurations in SaaS applications that cause confidential information is made public.”
Internationally, the memorandum builds on recent diplomatic achievements, including the G7 International Code of Conduct on AI and agreements reached at the AI Safety Summits in Bletchley and Seoul. Notably, 56 countries have endorsed the US-led political declaration on the military use of AI and autonomy.
The Biden administration also scored a diplomatic victory with the passage of the first UN General Assembly resolution on AI, which received unanimous support, including co-sponsorship from China.
The memorandum highlights the critical role of semiconductor manufacturing in the development of AI, and echoes Biden’s previous CHIPS Act. It leads actions to improve the security and diversity of the chip supply chain, ensuring U.S. leadership in advanced computing infrastructure.
This latest initiative is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader strategy for responsible innovation in the AI sector, reinforcing America’s commitment to maintain technology leadership while upholding democratic values and human rights.
(Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst)
See also: EU AI Act: Early preparation can give companies a competitive advantage
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