Issue 156: AI Regulation is Finally Taking Shape
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about artificial intelligence and regulations. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
AI Regulation is Finally Taking Shape
Sensible regulations concerning artificial intelligence that balance user protections without stifling innovation are issues we have been writing about for years. The pace of innovation in AI is genuinely breathtaking, but safeguards that protect users, companies, and the labor market have been slow to materialize. We have argued that the UAE and other small countries with large knowledge economies like Estonia can lead by example with their own safeguards. The United States, under Job Biden, announced this week a slew of new regulations that appear to be a solid blueprint for further action down the line.
Better late than never. Biden’s executive order is the first for the US government. The order requires new safety assessments, equity and civil rights guidance, and research on AI’s impact on the labor market, among other points. Some AI companies will now be required to share safety test results with the government. The Commerce Department has been directed to create guidance for AI watermarking and to create a cybersecurity program that can make AI tools that help identify flaws in critical software.
The need for buy-in. Whether or not the Biden Administration secures the partnership of leading AI companies to implement this order remains to be seen. Private sector cooperation is a vital ingredient in any equitable regulatory model. One administration official told CNBC that 15 major American technology companies have agreed to implement voluntary AI safety commitments but declined to say which ones. Regardless, the US has set the bar very high regarding AI regulations. Now, it’s time for other countries to follow suit.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
– Alvin Toffler, American Futurist
CHART OF THE WEEK
This week, we are thinking about Twitter and social media. Under Elon Musk, Twitter has had a rough year, and the prospects don’t appear promising for the once-mighty social media giant.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Everyone is looking: Facial recognition technology is controversial, and it will likely stay that way for quite some time. That doesn’t change the fact that the industry is booming and expanding, particularly in North America. So, it’s about time to address the concerns about facial recognition and make the necessary changes. In this piece from the archives, we took a deep dive into the debate about this powerful technology.
Smart Cities and AI: Remember when smart cities were everywhere? Plugged into the Internet of Things and flowing with data, smart cities were meant to be the cities of the future. So what happened? Writing for Technology Integrator magazine, Xische Director of Strategy Mary Ames tracks the evolution of smart cities and why the recent surge in AI capabilities is propelling smart cities back to the frontlines of urban innovation. Read it here.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Living in the fast lane. Does modern technology make life better or just faster? That’s the stimulating premise put forward by Brett Scott on Substack. Scott takes a hard look at the underlying systems involved in modern technology. “In the mythology of Silicon Valley, and in corporate capitalism more generally,” he writes, “it’s believed that we expand alongside our system and that new products are turning us into fuller expressions of ourselves. In reality, we’re biological beings with finite capacities trapped within an economy with an acceleration drive, and its constant attempt to expand just crowds out other stuff in our lives.” Thought-provoking material.
Disengage. After reading Scott’s argument, you might want to get away from the whole system of technology. But what does it mean to disengage and take a break from technology? That’s the subject of a fascinating piece in the online journal of philosophy and psychology, Aeon. The author argues that “acts of disengagement are routinely met with skepticism, judgment, and pushback in public discourse.” What if we flipped the tables and thought about them instead as opportunities for open inquiry and asked what is to be gained by them? More thought-provoking perspectives for your weekend.
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