The Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) at the Michael Dukakis Institute (MDI) have provided detailed recommendations for the National Commission on AI. The recommendations follow from the CAIDP report Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Values, a comprehensive review of AI policies and practices in 30 countries.
The NSCAI is scheduled to release its final recommendations for Congress on Monday, March 1, 2021. CAIDP Director Marc Rotenberg and Michael Dukakis Institute CEO Tuan Nguyen wrote “We believe it is vitally important for the United States to pursue a policy for artificial intelligence that reflects democratic values.”
The CAIDP Statement to the NSCAI noted favorably US support for the OECD/G20 AI Principles, the Presidential Executive Orders on AI, and legislation in Congress to establish a national AI strategy that addresses concerns about bias and fairness. But the CAIDP Statement raised concerns about the “opaque policy process” in the US, the reluctance of the Commission to conduct open meetings, and the absence of a data protection agency in the United States.
Regarding the report of the NSCAI, the CAIDP acknowledged “the substantial work of the Commission over a two-year period on this complex and important issue.” CAIDP also supported the International Digital Democracy Initiative However, the CAIDP raised several concerns. “Although we appreciate the brief opportunity to comment on the draft of the final report, there was too little input from the general public in the work of the Commission and too few opportunities for formal comment. The US Commission on AI did not even assess whether the US had taken steps to implement the OECD AI Principles or the G20 AI Guidelines, formal international commitments that the United States has already made.”
“We are also concerned by the decision of the Commission not to support a global prohibition of AI-enabled and autonomous weapon systems. . . . our recent review of country policies strongly indicates support among democratic nations for limits on these systems.”
CAIDP made several recommendations for the final NSCAI report:
– implement the OECD AI Principles
– establish a process for meaningful public participation in the development of national AI policy
– establish an independent agency for AI oversight
– establish a right to algorithmic transparency
– support the Universal Guidelines for AI
– support the Social Contract for the AI Age
– support an International Accord for AI
– reconsider the opposition to a ban on lethal autonomous weapons
The NSCAI event will be cybercast on Monday, March 1, 2021 at 12:00 EST. Registration is open to the public. Comments on the NSCAI report may be sent here.
Marc Rotenberg, Director
Center for AI and Digital Policy at the Michael Dukakis Institute
The Center for AI and Digital Policy, founded in 2020, advises governments on technology policy.
