The Department of Homeland Security has established the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board responsible for providing advice about AI technology’s safe and secure development and deployment in U.S. critical infrastructure.
The board consists of more than 20 technology and critical infrastructure executives, including Wash100 awardees Kathy Warden of Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Arati Prabhakar of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who will also chair the group, DHS said Friday.
Developing recommendations for responsible AI use and AI-related disruption prevention and preparation is also a key work of the board, which seeks to help critical infrastructure stakeholders.
“Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology that can advance our national interests in unprecedented ways. At the same time, it presents real risks— risks that we can mitigate by adopting best practices and taking other studied, concrete actions,” said Mayorkas. “I am grateful that such accomplished leaders are dedicating their time and expertise to the board to help ensure our nation’s critical infrastructure effectively guards against the risks and realizes the enormous potential of this transformative technology.”
The board will also work to take on threats posed by AI to defense, energy, agriculture, transportation, internet technology and other sectors that make up the U.S. critical infrastructure.
Commenting on the initiative, Prabhakar, assistant to the President for science and technology and OSTP director, said, “AI is one of the most powerful technologies of our time. President Biden has made clear that we must manage AI’s risks so that we can seize its benefits.”
