Week in Review (10/12/24)

Federal

• Biden-Harris Administration to Invest up to $100 Million to Accelerate R&D and AI Technologies for Sustainable Semiconductor Materials The U.S. Department of Commerce announces a $100 million AI-powered competition to develop sustainable semiconductor materials and processes. The initiative aims to strengthen the U.S. industry while addressing environmental challenges through AI-driven research.
• FCC commissioner warns of ‘heavy handed’ AI regulation in political ads FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr opposes a rule mandating AI-generated content disclosures for political ads, citing concerns about overregulation, public confusion, and potential impacts on innovation.
• Justice calls for sanctions against Google in landmark antitrust case Following a federal ruling against Google’s search monopoly, the DOJ suggests sanctions, including limiting exclusive contracts and data tracking, to restore competition and prevent market control.
• MITRE federal AI sandbox to train AI models for weather prediction, cyber, benefits processing MITRE’s Federal AI Sandbox, powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, will enable advanced AI models for cybersecurity, enhanced weather forecasting, and improved access to government services.
• Deputy Energy secretary sees role in counteracting AI industry’s ‘profit motive’ Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk emphasizes the need for government oversight in AI, focusing on public good use cases and addressing risks neglected by profit-driven tech companies.
• HHS developing new AI strategic plan HHS Acting Chief AI Officer Micky Tripathi announced a new AI strategic plan to guide healthcare innovation and federal AI roles, emphasizing support for private sector advancements and targeted federal involvement.
• Transition Tracking Action Group uses AI to speed DOD innovation The DOD's Transition Tracking Action Group employs AI and data analytics to streamline innovation tracking, enhance investment alignment, and optimize resource allocation, potentially saving billions in costs.
• DOJ developing guidelines for AI use in law enforcement The U.S. Department of Justice is developing AI guidelines for law enforcement, focusing on privacy, ethics, and security, while consulting experts and ensuring responsible AI deployment nationwide.
• OpenAI sees continued attempts to use AI models for election interference OpenAI's latest report reveals over 20 attempts to misuse its AI for election interference this year, highlighting disruptions of covert operations from countries like Iran and Rwanda.
• DoD considers faster acquisition pathway for AI The Army is considering a dedicated AI pathway within its software acquisition process to accelerate algorithm deployment, enabling quicker updates that match AI’s rapid development cycle.
• Data, talent, funding among top barriers for federal agency AI implementation Federal agencies report data readiness, talent shortages, and funding limitations as top challenges in AI adoption, impacting efforts to meet the Biden administration's AI governance directives.
• Government use of AI by key U.S. military branches The Air Force, Army, and U.S. Central Command are exploring generative AI tools to enhance operations, though issues like data security and potential misuse remain significant considerations.
• SEC settles with trading firm over $4M ‘AI-washing’ scheme Rimar LLC and its executives settled with the SEC for overstating AI capabilities to raise $3.73 million, agreeing to a $310,000 fine without admitting fault.
• Sen. Chris Coons: AI deepfakes threaten Americans and our election Senator Chris Coons highlights the threat AI deepfakes pose to democracy, advocating for the NO FAKES Act to safeguard individuals’ identities against unauthorized AI-generated content.
• CISA official: AI tools ‘need to have a human in the loop’ At recent D.C. event, CISA’s Lisa Einstein emphasized that AI tools in cybersecurity require human oversight to address challenges effectively and avoid over-reliance on automation.

State/Local

• CA law requires schools to teach students about AI California mandates AI literacy in K-12 curricula, incorporating AI concepts, ethics, and real-world impacts into math, science, and social studies to prepare students for an AI-driven future.
• Kansas CISO: How AI could help patch software faster Kansas CISO John Godfrey sees AI enhancing cybersecurity, aiding rapid patch deployment, and balancing risk. He also remains vigilant against AI threats like deepfakes and disinformation.
• Nvidia partners with Pitt, Carnegie Mellon for AI community Nvidia partners with Carnegie Mellon and Pitt to establish Pittsburgh as an AI Tech Community, creating joint centers for robotics and health sciences, and fostering regional AI innovation and collaboration.
• Governor Hochul unveils new state-of-the-art AI supercomputer at the University at Albany Governor Hochul unveiled a $16.5 million NVIDIA DGX-powered AI supercomputer at UAlbany, bolstering the university’s AI Plus initiative and New York’s leadership in AI education and research.
• States still on a ‘learning curve’ amid generative AI’s promise As states explore generative AI, challenges in data quality and management persist, with leaders cautioning against hasty rollouts and urging investment in robust data strategies for effective AI use.
• Connecticut lawmaker leading national effort for states to adopt AI regs Sen. James Maroney leads a national coalition to develop a unified framework for AI regulations, aiming to avoid inconsistent state laws and encourage federal action.
• How battleground states are targeting AI and ‘deepfakes’ in political campaigns Key battleground states, including Pennsylvania and North Carolina, are advancing regulations on AI deepfakes in political ads to protect elections, with others like Minnesota and Michigan already passing such laws.

International

• Chile AI Report Chile is pioneering the use of UNESCO's AI Readiness Assessment Methodology, aligning its national strategy with global ethical standards. The initiative promotes inclusive AI development through multi-stakeholder engagement, policy reform, and capacity-building.
• The Bletchley Park process could be a building block for global cooperation on AI safety The Bletchley Park Process fosters international AI safety cooperation, emphasizing testing and evaluation of foundational models. Upcoming summits in San Francisco and Paris aim to solidify global standards for assessing and mitigating AI risks.
• What to know about GenAI: insights from the World Economic Forum Generative AI's rapid evolution is transforming sectors like education, healthcare, and finance. The World Economic Forum stresses responsible AI governance, focusing on data equity, transparency, and non-discrimination to drive positive societal impact.
• Governance in the age of AI A new white paper from the AI Governance Alliance outlines strategies for robust global AI governance, emphasizing public-private collaboration and adaptable regulations to address generative AI’s challenges and opportunities.
• Taiwan's AI goals will need more tech talent As Taiwan aims to become an AI hub, it faces workforce challenges due to low birth rates and an aging population. The nation plans to attract foreign talent and upskill its workforce.
• How the U.K. is investing in the AI revolution At The Futurist London event, UK Secretary Peter Kyle emphasized AI’s transformative potential, highlighting the need for anticipatory regulation that ensures safety and promotes public trust in emerging technologies.
• Why AI is the new frontier global trade must learn to cross As AI reshapes global trade, policy fragmentation and outdated frameworks pose challenges; experts suggest WTO initiatives to harmonize AI standards and mitigate risks to international commerce.
• Senate AI inquiry worried at threat to Australian democracy An Australian Senate report calls for AI regulations ahead of elections, highlighting concerns over AI's role in disinformation, deepfakes, and the risks posed to democratic processes.
• Iran rejects US allegations of AI-driven election interference Iran has rejected U.S. accusations of AI-driven interference in the upcoming election, calling the claims politically motivated, while U.S. agencies report heightened foreign influence threats from Iran, Russia, and China.
• New government tech deals boost the business of cancer detection The UK announces AI-driven cancer detection initiatives, leveraging partnerships with the NHS and private sector to enhance early diagnosis, treatment, and foster economic growth in life sciences.
• AI in cybersecurity: Kuwait launches training for government officials The Saad Al-Abdullah Academy in Kuwait is hosting an AI and cybercrime course for Interior Ministry officials, covering topics like machine learning, voice recognition, and natural language processing.
• Technology Working Group publishes report on AI The Technology Working Group’s latest report offers UK asset managers a blueprint for AI adoption, highlighting potential uses and challenges as the sector explores AI-driven growth opportunities.
• Europeans are optimistic about GenAI but there is more to do to close the trust gap ?A Deloitte survey shows European consumers and employees are optimistic about generative AI but emphasize data privacy and regulatory compliance as crucial to closing the trust gap.
• UNESCO and KOMINFO completed AI readiness assessment: Is Indonesia ready for AI? UNESCO and Indonesia’s KOMINFO completed an AI Readiness Assessment, evaluating Indonesia’s AI landscape and providing a roadmap for responsible AI development across legal, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions.

Other

• The future is now: AI and the legal profession The IBA and CAIDP's new report, The Future is Now, examines AI's profound impact on the legal profession, urging strategic adoption, ethical oversight, and comprehensive training to balance innovation with legal integrity.
• DeepLearning.AI Batch How Meta's Movie Gen does it, AI's criminal underground, court says LAION is legal, OpenAI's new voice API
• Minimizing negative effects of AI induced technological unemployment While AI adoption promises productivity gains, it risks job displacement, particularly among women. This article explores proactive policies to mitigate AI-induced job losses and support affected workers.
• Nobel physics prize 2024 won by AI pioneers John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for their foundational work in machine learning, recognized for driving AI’s rapid evolution and sparking both promise and caution.
• Weighing risks of moving too fast with GenAI Rushing into generative AI can lead to costly errors, while moving too slowly risks falling behind. Experts recommend a balanced, risk-aware approach tailored to organizational needs and AI governance.
• Generative AI’s act o1 The generative AI landscape is evolving toward “System 2” reasoning, unlocking advanced applications. As foundational models stabilize, new agentic apps and AI-native architectures promise to redefine the market.
• When is the right time to dump an AI project? By aligning AI projects with business objectives and setting clear success metrics, organizations can better gauge when to end pilots, avoiding costly delays and maximizing resource allocation.
• How hurricane Helene deepfakes flooding social media hurt real people AI-generated disaster images circulating after Hurricane Helene have fueled distrust and apathy, complicating relief efforts and reducing public empathy during actual crises by fostering skepticism and misinformation fatigue.
• Transnational AI and corporate imperialism Global Big Tech firms dominate AI development, posing risks to social, economic, and political spheres worldwide through exploitative labor practices, algorithmic bias, and data colonialism.
• Generative AI, the American worker, and the future of work A Brookings report warns of generative AI's potential to disrupt jobs and livelihoods, urging policymakers to prioritize worker-focused AI strategies for a balanced future of work.
• The AI revolution is coming for your non-union job As AI disrupts clerical and creative roles, experts urge policymakers to empower workers in shaping AI's deployment, emphasizing that non-union jobs are most at risk.