US Announces First Government-Wide AI Policy

Late last month, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced the completion of all of the 150-day actions laid out in President Biden's October 2023 Executive Order on AI. Delivering on a key component of that order, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued the first government-wide policy to mitigate the risks of AI. 

The new OMB policy requires that US agencies implement safeguards when using AI that could impact Americans' rights or safety. This includes assessing, testing, and monitoring AI's impacts, mitigating algorithmic discrimination, and providing transparency into AI usage. Agencies failing to meet these standards must cease AI utilization unless their leadership can justify why doing so would expose them to heightened risks or impede their operations. 

The policy also emphasizes transparency, requiring agencies to release inventories of AI use cases and report metrics publicly. Additionally, it encourages responsible AI innovation, removing barriers and facilitating AI talent recruitment and training across federal agencies. Governance measures include the designation of Chief AI Officers and the establishment of AI Governance Boards in agencies.

Along with this guidance, the Biden Administration announced several other measures to promote the responsible use of AI in Government:

• The OMB will issue a request for information (RFI) on how the government can responsibly procure AI products and services to inform its future action;
• Federal agencies will expand their reporting on federal AI use cases; and 
• The Administration will hire 100 AI professionals by Summer 2024. 

In the announcement, Vice President Harris stated that these initiatives aim to position the US government as a global model for the responsible, secure, and trustworthy use of AI.