An influential suppose tank, the RAND Company, has come beneath scrutiny for its involvement in shaping the USA’ AI coverage. A latest revelation means that RAND considerably drafted President Joe Biden’s govt order on synthetic intelligence (AI), particularly specializing in reporting necessities for superior AI techniques. Whereas this transfer is meant to mitigate the doubtless catastrophic dangers related to AI, considerations have emerged concerning the affect of Open Philanthropy, a serious donor to RAND.
RAND’s affect on AI coverage
President Biden’s govt order on AI, issued in October, outlines reporting necessities to manage the use and growth of superior AI applied sciences. These necessities, which resemble the coverage priorities of Open Philanthropy, search to deal with the existential dangers posed by AI, such because the potential creation of bioweapons utilizing AI techniques.
Notably, Jason Matheny, RAND’s CEO, and Jeff Alstott, a senior data scientist at RAND, are outstanding figures within the efficient altruism motion, which advocates for data-driven approaches to philanthropy and emphasizes the significance of addressing AI’s apocalyptic potential.
Open philanthropy’s contribution
Open Philanthropy, funded by Fb co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and his spouse Cari Tuna, is a major contributor to RAND, having donated over $15 million this yr alone. The group aligns its philanthropic efforts with efficient altruism, which locations AI know-how on the forefront of its considerations.
Efficient altruists, together with these at RAND, advocate for the accountable growth and regulation of AI to stop the misuse of this highly effective know-how. Their affect has grown in Washington as policymakers more and more acknowledge the necessity to tackle AI’s potential risks.
Balancing priorities
Critics argue that the extraordinary focus of efficient altruism on AI could inadvertently serve the pursuits of tech giants by diverting policymakers’ consideration from present AI-related points. Such points embody the perpetuation of racial bias in AI techniques and the erosion of copyright protections.
This criticism raises questions concerning the potential bias in AI coverage growth. RAND personnel with ties to efficient altruism take part in drafting govt orders and influencing the path of AI regulation.
In response to those considerations, RAND spokesperson Jeffrey Hiday has acknowledged that RAND personnel performed a job in drafting the AI govt order. He defined that RAND’s core mission is to analysis and analyze essential subjects and share that experience with policymakers. Nonetheless, Hiday didn’t instantly tackle considerations concerning the group’s objectivity in mild of its ties to Open Philanthropy.
Worker considerations
The latest revelations about RAND’s involvement in shaping AI coverage haven’t gone unnoticed amongst its staff. Throughout an all-hands assembly in October, one worker expressed considerations that the suppose tank’s reference to Open Philanthropy may undermine its repute for rigor and objectivity. There are worries that RAND’s affiliation with efficient altruism may result in prioritizing the “efficient altruism agenda” over neutral coverage growth.
RAND Company’s substantial affect in shaping President Biden’s AI coverage has raised questions concerning the group’s objectivity and potential bias. Whereas the suppose tank asserts that its involvement aligns with its mission to supply experience to policymakers, considerations persist concerning the affect of Open Philanthropy and the efficient altruism motion on AI coverage growth.
As AI continues to advance and play an more and more pivotal position in society, it’s important for policymakers, suppose tanks, and organizations concerned in shaping AI coverage to take care of transparency and impartiality to make sure this transformative know-how’s accountable growth and regulation. The talk over methods to strike this steadiness between innovation and safeguarding towards potential dangers will seemingly proceed as AI know-how evolves.