What does President Biden's Landmark Executive Order on AI mean for you?

Today Oct 30th 2023, President Biden took a significant step to ensure the United States remains at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) development and deployment. He signed a comprehensive Executive Order (EO) that sets new standards and guidelines for AI development and use across both the government and private sectors. It's a move the White House believes will safeguard Americans' information, promote innovation and competition, and advance U.S. leadership in the industry. But what does it mean for you?

The Executive Order is designed to manage the risks associated with AI while maximizing its potential benefits. Some of the key actions outlined in the order include:

• Safety Test Sharing: Developers of AI systems, especially those that could pose risks to national security, public health, or economic security, are required to share their safety test results with the federal government before public release. This move promotes transparency in AI testing.
• Rigorous Testing Standards: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been directed to establish rigorous testing standards for AI systems before they are released to the public. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security will apply these standards to critical infrastructure sectors and will establish an AI Safety and Security Board.
• Data Privacy: The order emphasizes strengthening privacy-preserving technology and research, such as cryptography tools. It also aims to evaluate how federal agencies collect and use commercially available information, ensuring that Americans' privacy is protected as AI technologies are deployed.
• Algorithmic Discrimination: The Executive Order seeks to address algorithmic discrimination. The Department of Justice and federal civil rights offices will be equipped to investigate and prosecute civil rights violations related to AI. Additionally, the administration plans to develop best practices for the use of AI in various aspects of the criminal justice system.
• Workforce and Job Displacement: The order also outlines best practices to minimize the potential harms of AI on job displacement and labor standards, ensuring that the integration of AI doesn't lead to significant job losses.
• Immigration and Expertise: Recognizing the importance of global talent, the administration aims to streamline the visa interview and review process, making it more efficient for highly skilled immigrants and nonimmigrants with expertise in key AI areas to stay, study, and work in the U.S.

Comparing the EU AI Act and Biden's Executive Order on AI

While the United States and European Union share similar objectives in developing AI responsibly, their regulatory approaches exhibit key differences.

I had previously written an article about the "EU GenAI act" providing insights into the European perspective on AI governance. The comprehensive EU AI Act categorizes AI systems based on risk, with outright bans on certain high-risk applications like emotion recognition and social scoring. It also restricts the use of AI in hiring, law enforcement, and judicial decisions.

In contrast, President Biden's Executive Order establishes guidelines rather than outright bans. It focuses more on high-risk AI used by the US government and critical infrastructure operators, rather than commercial AI systems. The Order encourages voluntary safety testing and transparency from AI developers, promotes increased research funding, and emphasizes workforce protections.

What this means if you're a CDO or CDAIO

The Executive Order on AI has profound implications for Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and Chief Data, Analytics, and AI Officers (CDAIOs). These leaders are at the forefront of ensuring that data-driven strategies align with regulatory guidelines and that AI deployments are both ethical and effective.

Historically, as discussed in "The History, Evolution and Future of Data Quality", the emphasis on data quality has been paramount. With the integration of AI into enterprise systems, the quality of data not only determines the accuracy of insights but also the ethical implications of AI decisions. Poor data quality can lead to biased AI outcomes, making the role of CDOs and CDAIOs even more critical in the current landscape.

Furthermore, the "Evolution and Future of the Chief Data, Analytics, AI Officer (CDO)" article highlights the expanding role of these officers. They are no longer just custodians of data but are strategic leaders driving digital transformation. With the new Executive Order, their role will encompass ensuring compliance with AI guidelines, promoting transparency in AI development, and leading initiatives that prioritize ethical AI deployment.

What this means if you're an Enterprise Implementing Data Governance

The Executive Order also has broader implications for data governance in enterprises. Data governance, which encompasses the management of data availability, usability, integrity, and security, will now also need to factor in AI ethics and compliance.

1. Transparency and Accountability: With the requirement for AI developers to share safety test results, data governance frameworks will need to ensure that data used in AI training and testing is transparently managed and documented. This will involve tracking data lineage, sources, and transformations.
2. Ethical AI Deployment: Data governance will play a pivotal role in ensuring that AI models are trained on diverse and representative datasets. This will prevent biases and ensure that AI decisions are fair and equitable.
3. Data Privacy and Security: As AI systems often require vast amounts of data, ensuring the privacy and security of this data becomes paramount. Data governance frameworks will need to be robust, ensuring that personal and sensitive data is protected, especially when used in AI models.
4. Continuous Monitoring and Auditing: With the rapid evolution of AI technologies, continuous monitoring and auditing of AI systems will become a standard practice. Data governance teams will need to collaborate closely with AI teams to ensure that models remain compliant over time.

What this means if you're considering Data Observability

For companies like Acceldata specializing in data observability, this Executive Order further underscores the importance of our platform, which has already been adopted by the Global 2000. As highlighted in "Data and AI form a Dynamic Duo for Futuristic Business Outcomes", the synergy between data and AI is pivotal for achieving transformative business results.

While EU Acts and this new EO are important, it is still incumbent upon us to ensure that we keep a close eye on the behavior of new LLMs. My article "Can Data Observability Save Us from AI Disaster?" emphasizes the role of data observability in preventing potential AI mishaps.

It's worth noting also that exploration of "Generative AI: Augmenting & Automating Intelligence with Human in the Loop" and "p(doom), the AI Alignment Problem, and the Future of your Product" can offer a path forward in coexisting and understanding the challenges and opportunities in AI alignment, product development and the responsible use of AI.

Regardless of any legislation, it's becoming clearer every day that data observability is one of the tools that is needed to navigate and keep in check the use or misuse of AI. Enterprises are viewing "Data Observability as a Well Orchestrated Team" to ensure that their data strategies are harmoniously aligned with their AI objectives.