Recommendations for the U.S. AI Action Plan

https://futureoflife.org/document/recommendations-for-ai-action-plan/

FLI offers several proposals for safeguarding US interests in the age of advanced AI. Our submission stresses the necessity of protecting the presidency from loss of control by calling for mandatory “off-switches,” preventing the development of uncontrollable AI, and robust antitrust enforcement in the AI sector.

We further highlight the importance of ensuring AI systems are free from ideological agendas, and call for a ban on models with superhuman persuasion capabilities. We also emphasize the need to protect critical infrastructure and American workers from AI-related threats, and suggest measures like export controls on advanced AI models and tracking job displacement.

Finally, we propose establishing an AI industry whistleblower program alongside mandatory reporting of security incidents to foster transparent and accountable development.

1. 1. Protect the presidency from power loss to an out-of-control AI or rival authority.
   
   1. 1.1  Issue a moratorium on developing future AI systems with the potential to escape human control, including those with self-improvement and self-replication capabilities.
   2. 1.2 Ensure the US government understands and has visibility into superintelligent AI systems.
   3. 1.3  Mandate installation of an off-switch for all advanced AI systems.
   4. 1.4  Require antitrust law enforcement agencies at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to engage in robust oversight and enforcement to prevent power concentration as well as market consolidation of AI development under a small handful of tech monopolies.
2. 2. Foster human flourishing from AI by promoting the development of AI systems free from ideological agendas.
   
   1. 2.1  Ban AI models that can engage in superhuman persuasion and manipulation.
   2. 2.2 Require the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the AI & Crypto Czar to have close engagement with the White House Faith Office and all religious communities to inform the governance of AI.
3. 3. Protect American workers from job loss and replacement.
   
   1. 3.1  Task the Secretary of Labor with tracking AI’s potential to replace workers, including a breakdown of the impact across different states.
4. 4.  End the free giveaway of US frontier AI technology to adversaries.
5. 5. Condition privileged energy grid access for AI companies on verifiable security measures to prevent foreign theft.
6. 6. Establish an AI industry whistleblower program to incentivize AI development that is free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas and promotes national security.
   
   1. 6.1  Direct the AI Czar to coordinate with Congress to establish an AI-specific whistleblower program to report dangerous signs of AI control loss or negligent practices that threaten the American people and strengthen our adversaries.
   2. 6.2  Require NIST to issue instructions to companies on what security incidents must always be reported.

About the Organization: The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is one of the US’s oldest and most influential think tanks with a focus on advanced artificial intelligence (AI). Our first research grants were funded by Elon Musk, who continues to serve as one of our external advisors. In the early days of AI policy, FLI convened industry leaders, academia and civil society to develop the world’s first AI governance framework at Asilomar in 2017. Following the launch of OpenAI’s GPT-4, our 2023 open letter sparked a global debate on the consequences of AI development for society.

Author: Jason Van Beek is FLI’s chief government affairs officer. Before joining FLI, Jason served for 20 years as a senior advisor to current Senate Majority Leader John Thune. During that time, he served in a variety of staff roles, including as Senator Thune’s staff designee to the Armed Services Committee as well as a senior staffer on the Senate Commerce Committee, and ultimately as a Senate leadership staffer. As the Commerce Committee’s top investigator, he conducted investigations of large technology companies. Jason also advised on national security, intelligence, and nuclear weapons issues when Sen. Thune served on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He can be reached at jason@futureoflife.org.

Executive Summary: FLI offers several proposals for safeguarding US interests in the age of advanced AI. Our submission stresses the necessity of protecting the presidency from loss of control by calling for mandatory “off-switches,” preventing the development of uncontrollable AI, and robust antitrust enforcement in the AI sector. We further highlight the importance of ensuring AI systems are free from ideological agendas, and call for a ban on models with superhuman persuasion capabilities. We also emphasize the need to protect critical infrastructure and American workers from AI-related threats, and suggest measures like export controls on advanced AI models and tracking job displacement. Finally, we propose establishing an AI industry whistleblower program alongside mandatory reporting of security incidents to foster transparent and accountable development.