Feds, Industry Detail How US Should Work on Global Standards for AI

Federal and industry officials called on the government to consider the latest changes in the tech sector when creating standards for the use of artificial intelligence-based technologies, Nextgov reported Thursday. Lynne Parker, assistant director for AI in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said there is a need for a new standards-setting process as the U.S. industry leads the global marketplace for technology. 

“Because most of the inventions and innovations were coming from American companies, for the most part, the folks that were at the table conversing about technology—technical standards—were primarily American companies,” she said. “But, we can’t assume that because it’s worked out well for American companies in the past it will continue to work out well going forward.”

Parker suggested that the country should put American principles into international efforts to develop AI and the standards for the technology. Jason Matusow, general manager of Microsoft’s Corporate Standards Group, said engineers and non-technical people should share expertise to create the AI standards. 

“We have a need to have people who are truly trained ethicists, people who have a basis for the discussion,” he said. “We have to find a joining of the conversation to say that it’s not some magical standard that gets written that defines ethics.”