Trump's AI executive order may not prevent dangerous deployments

On Tuesday, Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding the government’s efforts to conduct voluntary safety testing of frontier AI models. The order, however, has drawn criticism for offering only performative reassurances without meaningful regulatory changes. Critics argue that the document does little to prevent the deployment of potentially dangerous AI models. The order sets up a voluntary process for companies to collaborate with the government on safety reviews, but it does not establish any mandatory requirements for AI firms. Trump claimed the order would 'ensure that the best and most secure technology is deployed rapidly to confront any and all threats to our country.'

The executive order directs the National Security Agency to set up a classified benchmarking process to determine the threshold for designating an AI model as a 'covered frontier model.' It also mandates collaboration with the US Treasury Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to establish a 'cybersecurity clearinghouse' for scanning and patching vulnerabilities at scale. However, experts have pointed out that the government is unprepared to conduct meaningful safety testing within the 30-day window Trump has set. The order gives the Office of Personnel Management 60 days to expand the United States Tech Force Information Cybersecurity Specialist hiring and placement pathways.

The order also suggests that funding may be a short-term problem, directing the Office of Management and Budget to determine whether any Federal grant programs have available and relevant funding that can be directed toward applicants developing advanced AI vulnerability detection. As a stopgap measure, Trump plans to increase enforcement against individuals who might exploit untested AI models. The EO directs the attorney general to 'prioritize enforcement against individuals who use AI to illegally access or damage computer systems, steal data, or facilitate other criminal activity,' according to a White House fact sheet.

Source: arstechnica