US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced on September 8 that the Department of Commerce established a high-level committee to advise the federal government on a range of issues related to artificial intelligence (AI) and the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative (the Initiative).
The creation of the committee, formally called the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), was mandated by the requirements of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020. NAIAC’s stated purposes is to provide recommendations on topics including
- the current state of US AI competitiveness;
- progress in implementing the Initiative;
- the state of science around AI;
- issues related to the AI workforce, including barriers to employment supporting opportunities for historically underrepresented populations;
- how to leverage Initiative resources;
- the need to update the Initiative;
- the balance of activities and funding across the Initiative;
- the adequacy of the National AI Research and Development Strategic Plan;
- management, coordination, and activities of the Initiative;
- adequacy of addressing societal issues;
- ·opportunities for international cooperation;
- issues related to accountability and legal rights; and
- how AI can enhance opportunities for diverse geographic regions.
Further, NAIAC will establish a subcommittee that will advise President Joseph Biden on AI-related matters concerning law enforcement, including bias (in connection with applications such as facial recognition); security of data and legal standards, including those standards designed to ensure that the use of AI is consistent with privacy rights, civil rights and civil liberties; and disability rights issues raised by the use of AI technology.
The members of NAIAC are yet to be determined. Accordingly, it is difficult to determine at this point what impact and influence, if any, NAIAC will have on the development and use of AI. However, Morgan Lewis will continue to monitor and report the influence and findings of NAIAC.