US Leads AI Safety with OpenAI, Anthropic Joining National AI Institute
Last week, in a one of a kind effort, Open AI signed an MOU with the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (US AISI), which is part of the larger US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. This collaboration is aimed at furthering OpenAI’s commitment to safety, transparency, and human-centric innovation by establishing a framework that can be contributed to by the world.
US AI Safety Institute Collaboration
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, emphasized the significance of this partnership. He mentioned, “We are happy to have reached an agreement with the US AI Safety Institute for pre-release testing of our future models,” as he underlined the importance of national-level collaboration to ensure that the US continues to lead in AI innovation.
Why US AI Safety Institute? Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US AI Safety Institute, has been a strong advocate for safety in AI innovation and has facilitated numerous strategic partnerships. With a focus on advancing the science of AI safety, the institute aims to develop testing guidelines for safe AI innovation in the US.
The need for the US AI Safety Institute arises from concerns about the impact of poorly managed AI systems on democracy. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, highlighted the importance of aligning AI with human values and ethics to effectively support democratic institutions.
US vs China vs India
The US, in collaboration with OpenAI and Anthropic, is striving to lead in AI safety to counter China’s rapid AI advancements and maintain global dominance in ethical AI governance. There are concerns that China's efficient state control may enable them to win the AI race, surpassing US efforts constrained by political challenges.
China's dominance in visual AI and LLM field is evident, showcasing their capabilities in state-operated surveillance systems. However, standardised scrutiny can promote a more democratic approach to developing AI models, a crucial aspect potentially lacking in economies like China.
As more countries realize the importance of AI institutes, India is also urged to establish an AI Safety Institute to manage the rapid growth of AI technologies responsibly.
Former Union Minister of India, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, emphasized the role of democracies and their allied nations in shaping the future of technology to address concerns raised about the potential dangers of AI development led by China.
