White House Takes Action to Combat Deepfakes and AI Scams
The White House’s Role in Authenticating AI-generated Content
As concerns about deepfakes and AI scams grow, the White House has taken on the role of setting an example for authentication and safeguarding the public. According to Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, every citizen should be able to verify that the media provided by the government is authentic.
This initiative is part of the measures outlined in President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on AI. The order directs federal agencies to work with the Department of Commerce in developing content authentication and watermarking tools for AI-generated materials. The aim is to create a standard for both the private sector and governments worldwide. Additionally, the order requires large language model (LLM) providers to share the results of their safety tests with the federal government.
Watermarking as a Piece of the Puzzle
Prabhakar emphasized that watermarking is just one component of the broader actions being taken to combat AI-powered scams. The exact details and extent of the watermarking implementation are yet to be disclosed. Nevertheless, Prabhakar believes that the US is leading the way in AI policy, with this executive order representing a significant step towards addressing the challenges posed by rapidly advancing technology.
Evolving AI Regulations: The European Union’s AI Act
The European Union (EU) has also taken steps to regulate AI and address concerns about its abuse and impact. The EU recently released the Artificial Intelligence Act, which encompasses a range of policies for both government and private sectors.
During the Fortune Brainstorm AI conference, Prabhakar expressed her concerns about the risks associated with large language models, particularly in relation to training data. She noted that the implications and risks of AI applications are broad and can have long-term effects. As the EU finalizes its AI Act in the coming weeks, Prabhakar views the Biden executive order as laying the groundwork for future risk mitigation and emphasized that additional details about federal legislation on AI will be revealed in due course.
Protecting Privacy and Advancing AI Ethics
The federal government is actively working on developing technologies to safeguard Americans’ privacy. Funding from the Research Coordination Network is being used to explore cryptographic tools that protect consumer privacy. Furthermore, the government is evaluating privacy techniques utilized by AI-centric corporations.
Overall, the White House’s efforts to tackle deepfakes, AI scams, and privacy concerns demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that the public can trust the authenticity and security of AI-generated content. By leading the way in policy and developing safeguards, significant progress is being made to mitigate the risks and consequences associated with these emerging technologies.
