On June 12, the Center for American Progress submitted a public comment to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) artificial intelligence (AI) accountability policy request for comment. CAP’s official comment is now available in the public record and can also be found here.
Here are a few excerpts from CAP’s comments:
The issue of developing accountability systems for AI is of critical importance … [and] may be the most critical technological policy challenge of our time. … Unlike previous dramatic technological shifts, those developing advanced AI, along with numerous experts, have themselves warned about its potential negative impact on many aspects of society, of the need for it to be regulated, and even broader systemic risk to humanity. … If the United States cannot create an effective accountability system for AI and automated systems that addresses the range of highly consequential issues—especially those involving democratic process, discrimination and impact on marginalized communities, and human autonomy—then the danger from these systems is greater than their potential benefit. No amount of proposed innovation is worth the systemic threat to or destruction of any of those critical pillars of American and human society. Without proper accountability mechanisms, the risks are too severe, and AI should simply not exist in an unchecked environment.
A strong AI accountability framework must empower the U.S. government to create and enforce new rules around AI, such as to designate high-risk cases and sectors that in some cases should go through a government review before deployment, prevent national security threats, outright prohibit certain dangerous uses, and establish broad principle-based rules to ensure safe and effective systems and prevent algorithmic discrimination.
The importance of the United States developing an effective accountability system for AI to ensure the development and deployment of trustworthy AI cannot be overstated. The only way to ensure that AI innovation protects fundamental aspects of society is by ensuring strong accountability mechanisms enforced by the government.
The authors would like to thank Jennifer Lee, Justine Gluck, Mara Rudman, and Dr. Alondra Nelson for their contributions to this comment.