‘The fundamental premise is that AI will have significant implications for national security,’ White House economic adviser says.
President Joe Biden has issued the nation’s first national security memorandum on the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The memorandum, released on Oct. 24, directs the U.S. government to lead in developing “safe, secure, and trustworthy AI,” according to a fact sheet provided by the White House.
“AI has emerged as an era-defining technology and has demonstrated significant and growing relevance to national security,” the memorandum reads. “The United States must lead the world in the responsible application of AI to appropriate national security functions.”
The memorandum also directs the U.S. government to harness AI to advance national security priorities and promote international consensus on rules and norms for its use.
“The fundamental premise is that AI will have significant implications for national security,” White House national economic adviser Lael Brainard said in a prepared statement.
“The AI National Security Memorandum establishes that retaining US leadership in the most advanced AI models will be vital for our national security in coming years.”
To that end, the memorandum directs the government to create resilient semiconductor supply chains.
“Sustaining U.S. preeminence in frontier AI into the future will require strong domestic foundations in semiconductors, infrastructure, and clean energy—including the large data centers that provide computing resources,” Brainard said.
The directive also calls for a framework for Washington to work with allies to ensure that AI “is developed and used in ways that adhere to international law while protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Speaking at the Brookings Institution think tank on Oct. 23, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the administration is already leading in technological development around the world with its allies, coordinating closely on shared standards.
“We’re building a network of AI safety institutes around the world, from Canada to Singapore to Japan, to harness the power of AI responsibly,” Sullivan said.
The memorandum also directs U.S. intelligence agencies to inform technology companies of incidents in which foreign entities have been detected attempting to steal their intellectual property.
