This blog post by Lynne Parker, Director, National AI Initiative Office, and Rashida Richardson, Senior Policy Advisor for Data and Democracy, was originally posted on the White House OSTP blog.
We encourage you to read it and submit comments on the update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan by Friday March 4, 2022.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more prevalent in all of our lives. It powers all kinds of tools, from the digital assistants that answer questions on your phone, to breakthroughs in reading X-rays to better spot cancers. The so-called “intelligence” is the result of powerful computers sorting through mountains of data to find patterns, using algorithms designed and optimized by computer scientists.
Like all technology, AI is far from perfect. As we have started using AI for consequential decisions, we have realized that while AI can improve decision making, it too often compounds historical patterns of bias and deepens existing inequality. AI’s reliance on biased data or design processes has led to systems that produce discriminatory, or otherwise harmful, outcomes.
The Office of Science and Technology Policy is engaged in understanding the extraordinary promise of AI as well as its pitfalls. OSTP’s National AI Initiative Office (NAIIO) helps coordinate Federal activities in AI across government. OSTP is co-chairing the National AI Research Resource Task Force to answer Congress’s call to propose a vision for equitably expanding the research community’s access to the computing power, data, and testbed resources necessary to do AI research. OSTP has issued a call for the development of an AI Bill of Rights, and is working closely with both domestic and international partners across bilateral and multilateral venues to advance development, adoption, and oversight of AI in a manner that aligns with our democratic values.
Given the transformative potential of AI, we know it is critical that the American public have a voice in how this technology is used and governed. In late 2020, we initiated a public engagement process that included public listening sessions, a request for information on AI-enabled biometric technology, and stakeholder engagement meetings. Today, our National AI Initiative Office, in coordination with the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program of the National Science and Technology Council, is seeking public comments about how we should revise the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan. First published in 2016 and updated in 2019, the National AI R&D Strategic Plan identifies scientific and technological needs for AI innovation and investment priorities for Federally-funded AI research. In preparation for the Congressionally mandated 2022 Strategic Plan, this request for information seeks input on the goals, priorities, and metrics that Federal agencies should use to guide AI research and development.
OSTP’s mission is to “maximize the benefits of science and technology to advance health, prosperity, security, environmental quality, and justice for all Americans.” Our work in AI is intended to maximize its benefits while ensuring that AI-driven systems do not cause harm or impede our pursuit of American ideals.
Through first hand experiences, as well as being lucky enough to be considered pioneers of this multi-cloud environment, we believe there needs to be a major focus on keeping transparency A top priority. One that is not only focused on keeping everyone involved honest and true to one another, but to also make for A more simplified process in regards to otherwise difficult situations in an autonomous environment. Such as ownership of assets, creations, opportunities or rights in general. With such a system running successfully without the need for human signatures to validate ownership, we must focus on revitalizing A system set up to run in a past unfortunately was not so quick to evolve. In our opinion, and in our direct experiences over the past year, having our computer system clearly understand and process our involvements and agreements, but the companys involved with us not having a clue becomes very frustrating. In finding it A necessity to literally track backwards through thousands of pages of agreements, documents, and informational packets just to prove to an outdated system that we were the legal owner of certain accounts/assets proves to be confusing, expensive, frustrating and even hopeless at times. Such issues stem from implementing an entirely new system, into systems not yet capable of following along, and one that is still set in the old ways of doing business. From the hundreds of confused people on the other end of the telephone, to the frustration that comes from the lack of direct possibilities to “claim” information that belongs to A company or individual to the employees working for these dompanies we believe A standardization of filenames, and A standard process for delivering these files is mandatory. To an unsuspecting individual, or even team, we have found that finding information meant to be received a year ago can have damaging effects to A company regardless of the timing of proper, actual knowledge it even exists. The cryptocurrency community is where our understanding of A transparent system began, and is where our solution for the multi-cloud system widely being used today was gathered. Installing A way to properly label owners of property, guarantee A more fair and honest system overall, and finding a process that helps owners of property or even legal documents and agreements to properly link the owner with the product or company without a need to track back through or get left behind. These properties are a necessity to creating a smoother, more honest environment in the new multi cloud world, which as we know is ever changing, ever growing. Just as it should be.
Mr. Sherfy—thank you so much for your suggestions. I encourage you to submit your public comments at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-02161 on revisions to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan. Please note the comment period ends on April 4.