Summary:
The recent signing of the Executive Order (EO) on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence by President Biden has significant implications for government contractors. While the EO encompasses various mandates affecting commercial entities, Sections 9 and 10 specifically address the protection of privacy and the advancement of AI within the federal government. Government contractors should pay attention to these sections as they contain requirements that directly impact the government’s development, funding, and procurement of private sector AI resources.
Section 9: Privacy Protection
Section 9 of the EO raises concerns about the potential threats AI poses to individuals’ privacy. Consequently, the federal government is required to take several measures to protect people’s privacy whenever AI is utilized. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will identify commercially available information (CAI) obtained by federal agencies and evaluate agency standards for the collection, processing, or use of CAI containing personally identifiable information (PII). The National Science Foundation (NSF) will also promote the research and development of privacy-enhancing technologies (PETS) and explore opportunities to incorporate such technologies into agency operations.
What Section 9 Means for Government Contractors:
Government contractors should assess whether their current or future contracts involve CAI, particularly CAI containing PII. They should closely monitor guidance from OMB and contracting agencies regarding CAI usage.
Section 10: Advancing the Use of AI by the Federal Government
Section 10 of the EO standardizes the direction for federal government agencies regarding the development and utilization of AI. It emphasizes the provision of government-wide guidance and outlines initiatives for improving the federal hiring of AI talent. The Office of Management and Budget will establish an interagency council to coordinate agencies’ AI efforts, issue AI guidance for agency governance, innovation, and risk management.
OMB AI Guidance:
OMB has already published draft AI guidance in accordance with the EO. The guidance includes directives for agencies to appoint chief AI officers responsible for overseeing AI use, creating AI governance boards, and implementing risk management practices. It also provides recommendations for the federal workforce’s use of generative AI, emphasizing innovation and responsible adoption.
Other Section 10.1 Provisions:
Section 10.1 tasks OMB with developing a framework to prioritize critical and emerging cloud offerings in the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) authorization process. This includes giving priority to generative AI offerings that provide large language model-based chat interfaces and code-generation capabilities.
In conclusion, government contractors should prepare for significant changes brought about by the EO on AI. They must evaluate their involvement with CAI, stay updated on guidance from OMB and federal agencies, and monitor opportunities related to PETS and AI-focused grants. By proactively adapting to these requirements, contractors can position themselves effectively in the evolving landscape of AI development and usage within the federal government.
The source of the article is from the blog klikeri.rs