The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the Department of Commerce (DOC), is asking for public feedback on policies that support accountability in the artificial intelligence sector.
NTIA initiated a Request for Comment (RFC) April 11 "to advance its efforts to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) systems work as claimed – and without causing harm," the agency announced at the time. The Biden administration will use the submitted comments to develop a comprehensive, cohesive federal approach to risks and opportunities associated with AI, according to the announcement.
"While people are already realizing the benefits of AI, there are a growing number of incidents where AI and algorithmic systems have led to harmful outcomes," NTIA states in the press release. "There is also growing concern about potential risks to individuals and society that may not yet have manifested, but which could result from increasingly powerful systems."
The AI Accountability Policy Request for Comment asks for public comment on policies that could support the development of mechanisms such as AI audits, assessments and certifications to develop earned trust in AI systems.
The NTIA’s request for comments is focused on fostering transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of AI technologies, the release reported. It emphasizes the responsibility of companies to ensure the safety and reliability of their AI products before making them available to businesses and consumers. The goal is to create a cohesive and comprehensive approach at the federal level to address AI-related risks and opportunities and to ensure that individuals whose lives and livelihoods are affected by these systems have access to reliable information about the trustworthiness of AI technologies.
“Responsible AI systems could bring enormous benefits, but only if we address their potential consequences and harm," Alan Davidson, assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA administrator, said in the release. "For these systems to reach their full potential, companies and consumers need to be able to trust them. Our inquiry will inform policies to support AI audits, risk and safety assessments, certifications, and other tools that can create earned trust in AI systems."
