In a move to bolster the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), Vice President Kamala Harris announced the White House Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) first government-wide policy on AI risk management. This comes as a follow-up to President Biden's Executive Order, which mandated actions to amp up AI safety, security, and equity as well as to foster innovation and competition, according to a statement.

The OMB's new policy demands that federal agencies implement robust measures to safeguard Americans' rights and safety when utilizing AI. By the end of 2024, each agency will need to put in place, procedures to reliably assess and continuously oversee AI's impact on the public. For example, travelers at airports will have the option to opt out of facial recognition tech employed by TSA, without suffering any inconvenience, the policy indicates.

Federal workforce interests are also under consideration, with guidance for agencies to engage with employee unions and abide by the Department of Labor's principles to alleviate potentially adverse effects of AI on federal employees. In a caveat, if safeguards cannot be applied satisfactorily, agencies must halt the use of problematic AI systems unless their leadership can justify its essentiality for operations or overall safety.

Transparency is also on the policy's agenda, requiring agencies to routinely publish inventories of their AI applications, including those affecting rights or safety. Furthermore, a push for advancement in responsible AI innovation is evident, as Federal Emergency Management Agency's use of AI for assessing hurricane damages, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's deployment of AI to predict disease spread, exemplify the technology's benefits.

The directive further includes personnel strategies, notably the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to hire 100 AI professionals by summer 2024 as part of the National AI Talent Surge. The criticality of filling AI roles is highlighted with plans for an AI career fair scheduled for April 18 and additional funding outlined in the Fiscal Year 2025 President's Budget for AI training programs.

With the announcement of these measures, the administration aims to establish a benchmark for AI use in government, enhancing accountability, leadership, oversight, and transparency, as reported by the White House. This approach underscores a proactive step toward ensuring that AI serves the public good efficiently and ethically.