Gina M. Raimondo Secretary of Commerce | Ballotpedia
The U.S. Department of Commerce has unveiled a series of new initiatives in response to President Biden's Executive Order on AI, marking significant progress in AI development and regulation. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the department's commitment to transparency and stakeholder feedback in this endeavor.
Under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has introduced four draft publications aimed at enhancing the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems. Laurie E. Locascio, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director, highlighted the unique risks associated with generative AI and the importance of managing these risks to support innovation.
Furthermore, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a request for public comment on the impact of AI on patent evaluations, seeking input on various aspects such as prior art and the assessment of skills in the art. Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, stressed the importance of responsible AI use in driving innovation while upholding intellectual property rights.
The NIST publications cover a range of AI technology aspects, including managing risks associated with generative AI, securing software development for AI systems, and addressing synthetic content risks. These draft publications are open for public feedback until June 2, 2024, reflecting a collaborative approach to AI regulation and development.
In addition to the guidance documents, NIST has launched the GenAI program to evaluate and measure generative AI technologies, aiming to promote information integrity and responsible digital content use. The program will offer challenge problems to assess the capabilities of generative AI technologies and differentiate between human and AI-produced content.
Moreover, the USPTO's RFC on patentability seeks to provide clarity on the patentability of AI-assisted inventions, encouraging investment in AI innovations while ensuring public understanding of patent processes related to AI. The deadline for comments on the RFC is July 29, 2024, inviting stakeholders to contribute to shaping AI patent regulations.
These recent announcements from the Department of Commerce underscore the ongoing efforts to advance responsible AI innovation and maintain America's leadership in technology.
