Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights : The White House Meets Sci-Fi
As happens in our breaking news era, some developments get lost amidst all other news; in October 2022, the White House published a report called “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights,” which focuses on developing a better AI system for those who love science fiction. This sounds very much like Isaac Asimov's “Three Laws of Robotics,” yet the White House blueprint is all-encompassing, covering a wide range of topics that will grow increasingly critical as our use of AI expands. Science fiction has been a powerful medium for how we think the world might be and where it might be headed. Although many aspects of science fiction never come to fruition, they linger in our imagination, yet these predictions sometimes become a reality. Artificial Intelligence has been featured in countless movies, books, and series.
AI has been depicted in pop culture in different forms, from a helper and lover to a destroyer. It is undeniable that artificial intelligence has been one of the most significant technological developments in the last couple of decades, and its potential to transform the lives of millions is already underway, especially recently with the introduction of Copilot by Microsoft, ChatGPT of OpenAI, even common word prediction are widespread and used. The rapid development of this technology, most governments are playing catchup and waking up to the reality of what artificial intelligence would mean for society.
Historically governments have been at the forefront of new technological developments and broader societal adoption. This has been done by investing in new scientific advancements, setting up standards and regulations, and giving an air of legitimacy to these new technologies. As a result of the inefficiencies and abuses that have occurred in the past when it comes to data collection or the deployment of harmful software that goes out of control, such as the first known cyber weapon Stuxnet in 2010, the government's role is now being questioned. Although there is a desire to move away from government as an entity for progress and technological innovation, it still plays a significant role in financing, establishing national priorities, and enacting laws on economic sectors.
Artificial Intelligence has become increasingly important across sectors of society. Almost every day, we hear about how governments, universities, the private sector, and think tanks are working on perfecting AI within a niche topic. Thanks to this trend, AI has been rolled out in healthcare, policing, the military, and education, among other fields. We can also see artificial intelligence devices such as phones, computers, and “personal” assistants. AI has been normalized as a product, and in a way, as a society, we do not question and trust artificial intelligence because of its accuracy and quickness in producing results.
Activists, journalists, and academics have nonetheless raised the alarm about the abuse and inefficiency of some Artificial Intelligence systems and how they might lead to unexpected effects for the broader population. while the private sector and some governments are investing in more efficient AI, the White House came out with a report on the future of artificial intelligence and how to build better AIs.
The White House clearly stated that this blueprint is non-binding, yet it shows the priorities of the Biden Administration and how AI should be made to benefit all of society. There are five core principles in this blueprint. These core principles are set to encapsulate the administration's priorities and how Artificial Intelligence should function for the wider population. These are “Safe and Effective Systems, Algorithmic Discrimination Protections, Data Privacy, Notice and Explanation, and Human Alternatives, Considerations and Fallback”. Although the blueprint offers a detailed explanation and how to implement these five principles, it is important to provide an overview.
Safe and Effective Systems. This principle is about how minimizing the harm these technological ecosystems can create. The idea is to promote input from the community and know what the consequences would be and how it can benefit everyone. Algorithmic Discrimination Protection is fairly straightforward: it suggests an algorithm and artificial intelligence that does not discriminate against people based on the data it has been trained on. This is relevant because a significant amount of the data provided to the AI may have prioritisation biases. The system then draws assumptions based on this information.
At the center of Data Privacy is that users should be able to expect that their data is secured and not being used inappropriately without the user's consent, including in recent years, the Cambridge Analytica Scandal or how ChatGPT can be used for data exploitation and other criminal activities. The White House maintains that individuals should be informed of how their data is being used and have the option to protect their privacy. Notice and Explanations is equally straightforward: the user must be informed of the device's purpose and how it impacts them, in this instance the algorithm or artificial intelligence. The companies collecting the data shall notify the user of any system modifications. Human Alternatives, Considerations, and Fallback are the final of the principles and are concerned with a person's capacity to disconnect from the technical environment and communicate with a human if they need assistance.
It is hard to argue that these principles are not important. We have all encountered problems with algorithms and artificial intelligence at some point. It is widely known how big corporations, governments, and institutions abuse the data they collect. In this regard, skepticism is the normal reaction when an ambitious plan to control artificial intelligence emerges. Yet the White House’s signal is still to be considered.
The White House is hardly the only institution advocating for digital age safeguards. Institutions such as the United Nations have made privacy part of their human rights mechanism, and arguments to make a better AI have been in the works for years. There is also an understanding that the way forward is to make AI and algorithms more equitable to people; that these systems have to protect people and reduce any harm caused by them.
Nevertheless, why is this significant, and why is it not? This is significant because it is a powerful signal from the Biden administration that, if implemented, this blueprint could serve as a cornerstone for user rights in the digital age. It demonstrates that the Biden administration understands that artificial intelligence could be made to work for humanity, provided these five fundamental principles are adhered to. That is a hint that the Biden administration recognises there is still time to develop beneficial AI regulations, despite the topic's intimidating appearance.
The main downside is that this type of ambitious expansion and codification of rights is years away from being implemented. As stated before, the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights is a nonbinding document, not a law. It is not a regulation. It's just a set of priorities to indicate where the conversation should go. It will take years for a broad implementation of AI and algorithms to be part of the different areas government is supposed to protect us from. The white paper says, “It is intended to support the development of policies and practices that protect civil rights and promote democratic values in the building, deployment, and governance of automated systems,” meaning that this report can be used for others to be built upon and expanded. Yet, if history is an indication, momentous change can happen when we least expect it.
Although in its infancy in historical terms, we are in the midst of a colossal change in how society functions and how people relate and interact with each other. If AI and algorithms play a significant part in our lives, we must immediately consider how AI might assist us rather than rule us. The knowledge that artificial intelligence is still in its infancy should not lead to complacency. There will come a moment when this discussion will be more important than ever before.