UH OH: Kamala Named ‘A.I. Czar,’ Tasked With Saving America From Artificial Intelligence

The Biden-Harris administration has named Vice President Kamala Harris as the new A.I. head with the task of leading the government’s efforts to mitigate the risks and harness the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) in America. This decision comes as part of the administration’s broader initiative to promote responsible innovation in AI and safeguard people’s rights and safety.

“AI is one of the most powerful technologies of our time, but in order to seize the opportunities it presents, we must first mitigate its risks,” stated the White House press release on Thursday. “When it comes to AI, we must place people and communities at the center by supporting responsible innovation that serves the public good, while protecting our society, security, and economy.”

As part of this initiative, Vice President Harris met with the CEOs of four American companies, Alphabet, Anthropic, Microsoft, and OpenAI, to underscore their responsibility in ensuring the safety and ethical use of their AI products before they are deployed or made public. The administration has also released a “Blueprint” for an AI Bill of Rights and an AI Risk Management Framework to promote responsible innovation.

The decision to name Harris as the A.I. lead has raised concerns among those who see this as another instance of government overreach and excessive regulation. Some argue that the government’s efforts to regulate AI innovation could stifle innovation and economic growth. Others also worry about Harris’s abilities to govern such technology. With a background in criminal justice and civil rights, she does not hold any experience in the field of artificial intelligence.

On Thursday Harris released a statement claiming her work against “Russian Interference” in 2016 adds to her list of qualifications:

“As a United States Senator and member of the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, we investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election and produced empirical evidence that state actors will use technology to undermine democracy.”

Harris continued, “Through this work, it was evident that advances in technology, including the challenges posed by AI are complex. Government, private companies, and others in society must tackle these challenges together. President Biden and I are committed to doing our part.”

To further advance AI research and development, the White House notes the National Science Foundation will provide $140 million in funding to launch seven new National AI Research Institutes. These institutes will support transformative AI advances that are ethical, trustworthy, responsible, and serve the public good in critical areas such as climate, agriculture, energy, public health, education, and cybersecurity.

The institutes will also promote ‘diversity’ in the AI workforce.

As a politician and a member of the Biden-Harris administration, Vice President Harris will likely face conflicts of interest in her new role. Harris will have political and personal interests that could dictate her decisions regarding the regulation and development of A.I. technology. For example, she may prioritize the interests of certain industries or stakeholders who have supported her or her party (the Democrats) in the past.