The U.S. National Security Council has made a significant move by releasing its inaugural memorandum on artificial intelligence (AI) on Thursday. This memo instructs federal agencies to utilize the most powerful AI systems available while also being mindful of the associated risks that come with this cutting-edge technology.
The National Security Memorandum (NSM) outlines the U.S. strategy for leveraging AI for national security and foreign policy objectives, with the aim of ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of both harnessing the potential benefits and managing the potential risks of AI.
Senior administration officials emphasized the directive for agencies to access and deploy the most advanced AI systems, acknowledging that this may require significant procurement efforts.
President Biden signed the NSM, which establishes the framework for the AI Safety Institute within the Department of Commerce. This institute has already provided guidance on safe AI development and has initiated partnerships with companies to conduct testing on new AI systems before their public release.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted the significance of this new policy during a presentation at the National Defense University in Washington, describing it as the nation's inaugural strategy for harnessing AI's power while mitigating its risks to enhance national security.
The potential transformative impact of recent AI advancements across various industries, including military, national security, and intelligence, has been widely acknowledged.
However, there are concerns regarding the potential misuse of AI by governments, such as for mass surveillance, cyberattacks, or the development of lethal autonomous devices.
The framework unveiled on Thursday also includes restrictions on certain applications by national security agencies, explicitly prohibiting the use of AI systems that could infringe upon constitutionally protected civil rights or automate the deployment of nuclear weapons.
