White House Announces Pioneering Commitment by Tech Titans OpenAI and Google to Foster Responsible AI Advancements

**Topline**

Leading U.S. tech companies, including OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, have announced voluntary commitments to mitigate the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). The White House made this announcement as lawmakers around the world work to develop regulations for AI.

**Key Facts**

– The White House has secured voluntary commitments from seven leading AI companies to promote the safe, secure, and transparent development of AI technology.
– Representatives from Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection AI, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss these commitments.
– The companies have pledged to share information with each other, governments, and researchers on how they manage AI risks. They will also invest more in cybersecurity and partner with third parties to test and fix any issues promptly.
– Additionally, the companies will develop tools, such as a “watermarking” mechanism, to inform users when content is AI-generated. They will also prioritize research on societal risks, such as bias, discrimination, and privacy concerns.
– These commitments, which will be implemented immediately, are based on three fundamental principles: security, safety, and trust.

**What We Don’t Know**

The White House’s announcement lacks specific details on the companies’ obligations and lacks an enforcement mechanism. It is unclear how the White House plans to hold them accountable, given that participation is voluntary. It is also uncertain if more companies will join this initiative later.

**What To Watch For**

While the voluntary commitments are seen as a crucial step towards responsible AI development, the White House acknowledges that they are just the beginning. There is ongoing work to develop an executive order and bipartisan legislation to regulate AI. However, no further details or timelines have been provided.

**Key Background**

Regulating AI is a top priority for the Biden administration, as lawmakers strive to create a comprehensive framework to guide this rapidly advancing technology. Recent advancements in generative AI, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, have increased the urgency to address this issue. Tech leaders and industry giants have called for government regulation while taking steps to develop AI safely. However, the absence of formal regulations raises concerns that industry players will shape the field.

**Further Reading**

– [Congress is racing to regulate AI. Silicon Valley is eager to teach them how.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/06/17/congress-regulating-ai-schumer/?itid=ap_catzakrzewski) (Washington Post)