Commerce Department to Evaluate AI-Related Risks Under Biden Executive Order

President Joe Biden has mandated the Department of Commerce to evaluate and mitigate risks associated with artificial intelligence systems.

Under a new executive order signed Monday, the department must ensure that AI systems are safe, secure and trustworthy, and it must also promote an innovative and competitive ecosystem to allow developers to create solutions that do not compromise customer safety. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Bureau of Industry and Security, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will work together to meet the EO’s requirements.

Specifically, NIST will lead work on AI safety for the U.S. government while the BIS will enhance safety as new models are developed. Meanwhile, the NTIA will create an AI risk and benefits report and the USPTO will clarify key issues about AI and intellectual property, the Department of Commerce said.

The Biden EO also requires the departments of Defense and Homeland Security to use AI to protect national security networks. Specifically, the departments must engage in a pilot program to identify, develop test, evaluate and deploy AI capabilities that can spot, fix and mitigate network threats.

The departments were given six months to conduct the pilot and must submit a report three months after the program’s conclusion.