White House Set to Unveil Comprehensive AI Executive Order on October 30

The Biden Administration is expected to announce a comprehensive executive order on artificial intelligence next week. According to reports, this extensive order will leverage the federal government's purchasing power to impose requirements on AI models prior to their use by government agencies. Scheduled for Monday, October 30, the announcement coincides with an international AI Safety Summit in the UK.

This executive order is anticipated to mandate that advanced AI models undergo thorough assessments before federal adoption. It will also facilitate immigration pathways for highly skilled workers, a process that faced significant restrictions during the Trump administration. Federal agencies, including the Defense and Energy Departments, as well as intelligence organizations, will be required to evaluate how AI can enhance their operations, with a particular focus on strengthening national cyber defenses.

On the same day as the announcement, President Biden is set to host a “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence” event. It is important to note that the executive order is still in draft form, and specifics may evolve.

In parallel, European officials are advancing their own AI regulations, aiming for a finalized framework by year’s end. The U.S. Congress is also in the early stages of formulating AI regulatory measures, with Senator Charles Schumer recently convening AI leaders to discuss these issues at the AI Insights Forum.

AI regulation has become a focal point in the tech industry, particularly as generative AI technologies have surged in popularity over the past two years. Tools like Midjourney and DALL-E 3 have demonstrated the ability to create convincing images, raising concerns about their potential misuse in disinformation and propaganda efforts. Similarly, platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Google’s Bard have stirred debate over truthfulness in generated text, along with the unsettling rise of AI models capable of cloning voices.

The implications of generative AI extend beyond misinformation; there are significant concerns regarding its impact on various job markets, particularly for artists, graphic designers, developers, and writers.