Biden Holds Talks with Artificial Intelligence Executives in San Francisco
As the House and Senate lawmakers propose a “blue-ribbon commission” to examine the potential effects of AI on American society, President Biden engaged in direct discussions and debates on the matter with leaders in the emerging field. Among those present at the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco were Tristan Harris, executive director of the Center for Human Technology; Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute; and Jennifer Doudna, Professor of Chemistry at UC Berkeley.
Staying on top of the growing advances in AI technology in recent months and years, particularly the emergence of generative AI systems, has become a focus of the Biden administration. Generative artificial intelligence systems promise to revolutionize many sectors of the economy and radically change the nature of modern office work. However, the same systems can just as likely wipe out entire professions, as the fields of digital art and journalism are now experiencing.
In May, the White House announced a $140 million investment to establish seven new national artificial intelligence research institutes and has begun exploring the use of the technology in business. As the White House chief of staff told the AP, top White House staff meet regularly, two to three times a week, on the issue. Biden himself has reportedly met with several subject matter experts and technical advisors on the topic to discuss “the importance of protecting rights and security to ensure responsible innovation and adequate protection.”
