Cybersecurity Policy Report, CES Panelists Eye AI Policy, Regulation Outlook, (Jan 12, 2024)

By Jeff Williams

Though there is still much work to be done, policy-makers, lawmakers, companies, and other players in the U.S. and around the world are all making key decisions about the regulatory treatment of artificial intelligence (AI), National Telecommunications and Information Administration head Alan Davidson and panelists said during a session yesterday at the Consumer Technology Association’s CES 2024 trade show in Las Vegas.

Saying in opening remarks that the “choice is ours” to “build technologies for good or for evil, in service of freedom or of control, or even destroy life itself,” Mr. Davidson highlighted the importance of the “global conversation” going on about how to reap the benefits of AI and machine learning while also protecting against possible harms.

“Responsible AI innovation can, and, I think, will bring huge, enormous benefits to people,” he said. “The truth is we will only realize the promise of AI if we also address the very serious and real risks that it raises today. Those include concerns about safety, security, privacy, discrimination, bias, risks from disinformation, impacts on the labor market.”

Mr. Davidson called the AI executive order (EO) President Biden issued in October (CPR, Nov. 1, 2023) the “most significant federal action, to date, on AI. It brings the full capabilities of the U.S. government to bear in promoting innovation and trust in machine learning and AI tools.”

Among other things, he said, NTIA is “deeply involved in the [Commerce] Department’s AI policy work and international efforts” related to the EO.

During one panel discussion, Sam Marullo, counselor to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, said that in addition to activities directed by the EO, there was a “ton of interest” from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate in “doing something” legislatively regarding AI.

“The problem is, they want to do ‘something,’” Mr. Marullo said. “I think we’re still at a phase where we are still trying to figure out what that ‘something’ is. ... I think it’s really helpful that members are putting forward so many different ideas. I will be curious to see what rises to the top.”

Stephanie Nguyen, chief technologist at the Federal Trade Commission, stressed that the agency was “getting the right people in the room” with AI expertise to work at the agency on examining the AI market.

For the FTC to consider its overall AI-related work a “success,” the agency will “want to see an ecosystem where startups and small businesses ... have a level playing field and can compete and thrive,” she said.

During a subsequent panel discussion, Addie Cooke, lead–global cloud AI policy at Google LLC, stressed the need to establish international AI standards and best practices.

Danyelle Solomon, senior director at Microsoft Corp., said there was a “real recognition that AI can provide us with clear benefits, but there’s also opportunity for harm and there have to be some kinds of rules of the road.”

David McIntyre, vice president–marketing at Xperi, Inc., said that while it remained to be seen if Congress passed “something truly comprehensive” regarding AI legislation “or we start seeing little pieces” pass, he thought “we have a great start, and the ball is rolling."

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