US  – Draft Guidance for AI regulation

On 7 January 2020 the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a draft Guidance for Regulation of AI for Federal Agencies to consider for the use of AI including: public trust, public participation, fairness, scientific integrity, risk assessment, benefits and costs, flexibility, fairness, transparency, safety and security, and interagency co-ordination. In contrast to the position taken by the Europeans, the US government position is that it does want AI to be highly regulated, with the OSTP draft Guidance stating, ‘Federal agencies must avoid regulatory or non-regulatory actions that needlessly hamper AI innovation and growth’. On 24 February 2020, the Department of Defense adopted 5 Principles for AI: Responsible, Equitable, Traceable, Reliable and Governable. Secretary Esper stated, ‘AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change America’s steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behaviour’.