U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech on Wednesday, stressing the urgency of safeguarding the public and democracy from the potential threats of artificial intelligence. She announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing safety concerns surrounding AI technology.
Speaking at the U.S. Embassy in London, Harris highlighted the risks AI could pose to individuals and the Western political system, warning of the potential for “cyberattacks at a scale beyond anything we have seen before” and the development of “AI-formulated bioweapons that could endanger the lives of millions.” These threats have been referred to as the “existential threats of AI” due to their potential to jeopardize humanity’s existence.
In her address, Harris called for a comprehensive approach to AI safety, addressing a “full spectrum” of threats, including bias, discrimination, and the spread of disinformation. She provided examples of AI-related issues such as the denial of healthcare to elderly individuals due to flawed algorithms and the use of explicit fake photos to threaten women in abusive relationships.
Harris’s speech follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s signing of an executive order on Monday, granting the U.S. government greater oversight of AI systems with potential risks to national security, the economy, public health, or safety.
The newly established U.S. AI Safety Institute will collaborate internationally with peer institutions, including Britain’s planned AI Safety Institute. Harris also mentioned that 30 countries have agreed to sign a U.S.-sponsored political declaration concerning the use of AI by national militaries.
