Americans for Responsible Innovation pushes White House AI task force on safety laws

The White House's AI task force is set to hold its first meeting this week, but it is still not clear what exactly will be discussed. The group has been scrambling to organize since its formation earlier this month. That uncertainty has not stopped outside groups from trying to shape its agenda.

Americans for Responsible Innovation, former Oklahoma Democratic Rep. Brad Carson's nonprofit focused on federal AI safety regulation, wants the task force to push Congress toward new laws with enforceable safety standards and public transparency. It argues voluntary commitments alone will not be enough and wants specific recommendations to Congress. Separately, Sens. Mike Rounds and Maria Cantwell wrote to the task force seeking more resources for the National Institute of Standards and Technology and its in-house testing lab, independent AI testing at the Energy Department's National Labs, and mobilization of technology to guard against cybersecurity incidents.

The task force is also operating alongside other developments. The FBI arrested a Saudi national Tuesday for allegedly secretly recording conversations at OpenAI's offices. Industry watchers are waiting for official guidelines on enforcement of the new directive, which may come from the Office of Director of National Intelligence, headed by task force chair Jay Clayton, and the Federal Trade Commission.