New Commerce Department Institute to Oversee Development of Safe AI Technologies

The Department of Commerce will set up a new institute to lead the government’s efforts to develop safe and reliable artificial intelligence technologies.

The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute will lead the department’s mandates under the Biden administration’s newly signed AI executive order. Specifically, it will oversee the agency’s efforts in developing standards for AI model safety, security and testing; AI-generated content authentication; and risk evaluation testing.

USAISI will be led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and will operate with insights from experts from academic institutions, the private industry, government agencies, civil organizations and allied nations, the Commerce Department said.

The institute’s introduction comes days after the Biden administration required the department to evaluate and mitigate AI-related risks under the EO signed Monday. Under the order, the agency was tasked to ensure that AI systems are safe, secure and trustworthy, and it must promote innovation and competition in AI technology development.

The NIST, the Bureau of Industry and Security, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Patent Office were tasked to handle various requirements under the EO.