Biden Issues Executive Order to Ensure Safe, Secure AI Development

Today, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) that establishes guardrails for the technology to ensure that it is “safe, secure, and trustworthy,” according to a statement from the White House.

The executive order’s standards for AI are focused on promoting safety and security; protecting Americans’ privacy; advancing civil rights and equity; standing up for workers and consumers; promoting innovation; and advancing American leadership in various areas, including healthcare.

Among the directives outlined in the order, one of the first requires that developers of AI tools that pose a risk to national security or public health share the results of safety tests and other relevant information with the federal government in accordance with the Defense Production Act.

The order also expands on some of the safety protections laid out in the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, underscoring the risk for bias and discrimination in areas like healthcare and housing that AI can perpetuate.

The order further recommends advancing the responsible use of AI in healthcare specifically, directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a safety program to monitor and address potentially unsafe healthcare practices involving these technologies.

In addition, the order states that principles and best practices should be developed to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of AI for workers in healthcare and other industries.

While much of the executive order focuses on addressing some of the challenges posed by the rapid, recent advancement of AI technology, there is also special attention paid to ensuring that AI innovations continue safely and effectively.

The order aims to “catalyze AI research across the United States through a pilot of the National AI Research Resource—a tool that will provide AI researchers and students access to key AI resources and data—and expanded grants for AI research in vital areas like healthcare and climate change.”

The executive order is part of a broader strategy by the Biden-Harris administration involving congressional action, international collaboration, and voluntary commitments by AI developers to manage the risks associated with these technologies.

AI regulation has been a hot topic as tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT have come onto the market, but many stakeholders in the healthcare space are particularly concerned about how these models may impact patient care and safety.

In an interview with HealthITAnalytics last year, experts from global law firm DLA Piper and Mayo Clinic Platform discussed how the White House AI Bill of Rights applies to healthcare. The guidelines are designed to provide practical guidance for US stakeholders pursuing AI development, they noted, indicating that the AI Bill of Rights can provide healthcare organizations with an opportunity to lead in the realm of ethical AI deployment.