The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released a memo outlining new policies for the use of AI in the US government, aiming to address concerns about transparency, accountability, and fairness.
In recent years, the world has been captivated by the advancements and controversies surrounding AI research. However, amidst the buzz surrounding high-profile events and breakthroughs, the US government has quietly been using AI systems for more mundane tasks. From tracking undocumented migrants to allocating police resources, AI has become a common tool for cutting costs. Yet, this reliance on AI has raised concerns about the potential for arbitrary rule and discriminatory outcomes. Finally, the call for transparency and accountability in the use of AI in government is being answered with the release of a groundbreaking memo by the OMB.
A Revolution in Transparency and Accountability
The OMB, the largest unit in the US president’s executive office, has released a draft policy memo that could revolutionize the use of AI in government. The proposed policy requires each department to appoint a chief AI officer and provide a register of existing AI use cases, a significant win for transparency. Additionally, the memo mandates the identification of AI systems that may impact people’s safety or rights, subjecting them to meaningful constraints.
Weighing Risks and Benefits
Under the new policy, agencies must carefully weigh the risks to rights and safety posed by AI systems against their claimed benefits. This requirement aims to address the inherent biases in AI models and the unrepresentative data on which they are often trained. Government departments must also consult affected groups before deploying AI systems and provide options for human consideration and remedy, allowing individuals to contest decisions that adversely affect them.
Addressing Government Procurement of AI
The OMB memo goes beyond transparency and accountability by addressing the important question of government procurement of AI. It highlights the need for best practices in the procurement process, aiming to prevent inexperienced government agencies from adopting software they do not fully understand. By requiring government departments to follow these best practices, the memo aims to mitigate the societal problems that arise from the failure of AI systems, particularly affecting the most vulnerable.
A Model for Research and Civil Society-led Policymaking
The OMB memo serves as a case study in research and civil society-led policymaking. In contrast, attempts to regulate frontier AI models in the EU have faced challenges. The EU parliament’s attempt to regulate AI systems, including ChatGPT, highlighted the difficulties of regulating a rapidly evolving field. The lack of time for public interest research and civil society debate has led to disarray in the regulatory process. The OMB memo provides a more balanced and well-grounded approach to AI governance.
The OMB memo represents a significant step towards responsible AI governance in the US government. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and fairness, the memo addresses the concerns surrounding the use of AI in government systems. It sets a precedent for other countries and organizations to follow in their efforts to regulate AI. However, the challenges of regulating frontier AI models highlight the need for further research and civil society debate to inform more mature policies. As AI continues to advance, it is crucial to strike a balance between innovation and responsible governance to ensure the equitable and ethical use of AI in society.
Ofisi ya Usimamizi na Bajeti ya White House (OMB) imetoa kumbukumbu inayoelezea sera mpya za matumizi ya AI katika serikali ya Marekani, ikilenga kushughulikia wasiwasi kuhusu uwazi, uwajibikaji na haki. Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, ulimwengu umevutiwa na maendeleo na utata unaozunguka utafiti wa AI. Hata hivyo, katikati ya msukosuko unaozunguka matukio ya hali ya juu na mafanikio, serikali ya Marekani imekuwa kimya kimya ikitumia mifumo ya AI kwa kazi za kawaida zaidi. Kutoka kufuatilia wahamiaji wasio na hati hadi kugawa rasilimali za polisi, AI imekuwa chombo cha kawaida cha kupunguza gharama. Hata hivyo, utegemezi huu wa AI umezua wasiwasi juu ya uwezekano wa utawala wa kimakusudi na matokeo ya ubaguzi. "Mwishowe, wito wa uwazi na uwajibikaji katika matumizi ya AI katika serikali unakubaliwa na kutolewa kwa memo ya msingi na OMB. """ OMB, kitengo kikubwa zaidi katika ofisi ya mtendaji wa rais wa Marekani, imetoa rasimu ya memo ya sera ambayo inaweza kubadili matumizi ya AI katika serikali. Sera iliyopendekezwa inahitaji kila idara kuteua afisa mkuu wa AI na kutoa usajili wa kesi zilizopo za matumizi ya AI, ushindi mkubwa kwa uwazi. Kwa kuongezea, memo hiyo inatoa amri ya kutambua mifumo ya AI ambayo inaweza kuathiri usalama au haki za watu, ikiweka chini ya vizuizi vyenye maana. "Kutokana na sera mpya, mashirika lazima ""yapime kwa uangalifu hatari kwa haki na usalama zinazosababishwa na mifumo ya AI dhidi ya faida zao zilizodaiwa.""" Hii inahitaji lengo la kushughulikia biases asili katika mifano AI na data unrepresentative ambayo wao ni mara nyingi mafunzo. Idara za serikali lazima pia kushauriana na vikundi vilivyoathiriwa kabla ya kupeleka mifumo ya AI na kutoa chaguzi kwa kuzingatia na kurekebisha binadamu, kuruhusu watu binafsi kupinga maamuzi ambayo yanawaathiri vibaya. Mkataba wa OMB unaendelea zaidi ya uwazi na uwajibikaji kwa kushughulikia swali muhimu la ununuzi wa serikali wa AI. Inasisitiza haja ya mazoea bora katika mchakato wa ununuzi, na lengo la kuzuia mashirika ya serikali yasiyo na uzoefu kutoka kwa kupitisha programu ambayo hawaelewi kikamilifu. Kwa kuhitaji idara za serikali kufuata mazoea haya bora, memo inakusudia kupunguza matatizo ya kijamii yanayotokana na kushindwa kwa mifumo ya AI, haswa kuathiri walio hatarini zaidi. Mfano wa Utafiti na Uundaji wa Sera inayoongozwa na Jamii ya Raia Mfumo wa OMB unatumika kama utafiti wa kesi katika utafiti na utengenezaji wa sera inayoongozwa na jamii ya kiraia. Kwa upande mwingine, majaribio ya kudhibiti mifano ya AI ya mpaka katika EU yamekabiliwa na changamoto. Jaribio la Bunge la EU la kudhibiti mifumo ya AI, pamoja na ChatGPT, ilionyesha ugumu wa kudhibiti uwanja unaobadilika haraka. Ukosefu wa muda kwa ajili ya utafiti wa maslahi ya umma na mjadala wa jamii ya kiraia imesababisha machafuko katika mchakato wa udhibiti. OMB inaelezea jinsi ya kuimarisha mfumo wa AI OMB inaonyesha hatua muhimu kuelekea utawala wa AI katika serikali ya Marekani. Kwa kuweka kipaumbele uwazi, uwajibikaji, na haki, memo inashughulikia wasiwasi unaohusu matumizi ya AI katika mifumo ya serikali. Hii ni mfano mzuri kwa nchi na mashirika mengine kufuata katika juhudi zao za kudhibiti AI. Hata hivyo, changamoto za kudhibiti mifano ya AI ya mpaka zinaonyesha haja ya utafiti zaidi na mjadala wa jamii ya kiraia ili kuelimisha sera zilizokomaa zaidi. "Kama AI inaendelea kusonga mbele, ni muhimu kupata usawa kati ya uvumbuzi na utawala wa uwajibikaji ili kuhakikisha matumizi ya haki na ya maadili ya AI katika jamii. """