The AI Research Boom, Six Months of President Biden’s AI EO, and Eye-Opening AI

Welcome to SV-AI (Silicon Valley - Accelerates Innovation), my newsletter focused on the responsible development and deployment of innovations strengthening California's global competitive edge. Please subscribe to receive upcoming editions. Here, I’ll share tech policy news and leadership insights that you need to know and how technologies, like Artificial Intelligence, are being used IRL. In this edition, I share new data on the growing field of AI research, mark the sixth anniversary of President Biden’s AI EO, and share how AI is being used to conduct life-changing eye screenings.?

AI 101?

During the World Economic Forum’s recent Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development, global leaders, tech experts, and leading economic thinkers held a meaningful discussion on AI. From Estonia exploring the role of Generative AI in the field of personalized medicine to Rwanda using AI to uplift its workforce, for me it’s clear there are many opportunities for AI to be used for good. It goes to show that these types of convenings - whether on the global, national, state, or local stage – are valuable for sharing insights into how best to leverage this powerful technology. Listen to the full discussion on the “Agenda Dialogues” podcast.?

Also, many of you have likely seen NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s recent interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes but I believe this is a must-watch. In the interview, Huang details how he went from working as a dishwasher at Denny’s to leading one of the world’s foremost companies driving the AI revolution. It’s a powerful story about the rollercoaster ride that is entrepreneurship, but I also find it so inspiring to hear the faith, sacrifice, and intense almost preternatural optimism of leaders who have executed upon such compelling visions. ?

US and China Lead AI Research ?

Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology found that between 2017 and 2022, worldwide research on AI?more than doubled. According to the data, the hottest research topics were large language models and distributed machine learning. Overall, research focused on four main themes:

• Basic AI approaches and capabilities
• Applying AI to real-world needs and problems
• AI safety and security?
• Society's response to AI?

China and the US dominated the production of AI research papers, with China producing more research papers in half of AI’s hottest fields.

But the US got the top spot for the most highly cited articles on AI (quality over quantity!).?

Six Months of President Biden’s AI EO?

We now mark the 6-month anniversary of President Biden's AI Executive Order.

This action has helped federal agencies set guardrails for the responsible and equitable usage of AI technologies that will ultimately advance clean energy solutions, develop the federal AI talent pipeline, and streamline healthcare access – all crucial for the betterment of our society.

While the Biden Administration's Executive Order has been an important step forward in implementing responsible AI development across industry and government, we also know that state-level policy leadership will be crucial going forward.

SVLG and the Institute for California AI Policy (I-CAP) will continue working with leaders in Sacramento to support policies that advance responsible AI and the broader innovation economy in the months and years ahead.??

House Administration Committee Sets AI Rules

The Committee on House Administration last week released an update on the use of AI technology by House offices and Legislative Branch agencies. The report also included a series of AI guardrails “to ensure safe and appropriate AI use within the institution.”

They are:

• Human Oversight and Decision-Making
• Clear and Comprehensive Policies
• Robust Testing and Evaluation
• Transparency and Disclosure
• Education and Upskilling

I should point out that these guardrails go hand-in-hand with the principles established by SVLG’s Responsible AI Working Group: human-centered, explainable outcomes, equitable, secure, and risk mitigation.

SVLG SVP Peter Leroe Mu?oz provides some additional context on the report from the House Administration Committee in a recent post, which you can read here.?

Eye-Opening AI?

In California, an AI algorithm is dramatically expanding screenings for the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults.

Places like Southern California’s Tarzana Treatment Center are using AI to administer a quick and easy screening that can diagnose diabetic retinopathy within minutes.

The technology has benefited both physicians and patients by providing immediate results, reducing costs, and making the entire process more convenient.

It’s yet another example of AI being used in a clinical setting to provide an improved healthcare experience.?

Final Thoughts?

A big thanks to my fellow Bay Area Host Committee board members (Al Guido, Jess Smith, and Aly Wagner) for a wonderful, lively discussion last month in Mountain View at their impressive new offices nested within Boston Consulting Group. It’s always great to connect and to talk about the regional impact of our amazing Bay Area sports teams, especially as AI becomes integrated more in sports, whether its scouting new players or enhancing offside technology.???

I have been so impressed by the leadership of Zaileen Janmohamed and hope that you all will stay tuned for more exciting updates as her team inspires us all and works to execute our mission to unite the Bay Area through sport!

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