U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Monday laying out the ground rules and guardrails for the explosive development and growth of artificial intelligence.
The order requires the industry to establish standards for safety and security, as well as safeguards to ensure the protection of consumer and privacy rights.
The White House is billing the order as the most sweeping actions any government has taken to date to confront both the promise and the perils of AI.
Canada was among several U.S. allies that Biden administration officials say were consulted on the proposal in the months leading up to its release.
“Canada welcomes the strong action from the White House to ensure safety, security, and trust in the use of AI,” Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement.
Champagne and Vice-President Kamala Harris were among the government officials making their way to London for a summit Tuesday on AI with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“I have been engaged in frequent dialogue with our international partners, including within the G7, to ensure the responsible use of AI globally,” Champagne said.
The federal government issued a voluntary AI code of conduct last month, and has also introduced legislation that includes efforts to regulate the technology’s use, he added.
“We are working with companies and experts around the world to transform AI from fear to opportunity.”
Biden’s order will also require developers to keep the government apprised of their research and training efforts, including safety test results.
Multiple federal departments will oversee testing standards to be enforced by a new AI Safety and Security Board under the Department of Homeland Security.
The Commerce Department will also establish new rules for watermarking and content authentication to ensure AI-generated content is clearly identified.
James McCarten, The Canadian Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2023.
The Canadian Press
