Apple to support Biden AI safety guidelines

Apple has signed on to a set of artificial intelligence (AI) safety guidelines, which the Biden administration outlined in an executive order released nine months ago. By doing so, Apple joins 15 leading U.S. AI companies committing to responsible AI innovation.

Apple announced their own suite of AI technology earlier this year — calling it Apple Intelligence.

A whole suite of AI features will be released with the next iPhone software update, including ChatGPT integration, art creation, and transcription services. As Apple gears up to release the technology, the guidelines are intended to ensure public safety, security, and trust with advanced AI systems.

Ahead of the executive order, the White House obtained voluntary commitments from several companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI and IBM.

The commitment means AI developers agree to a broad swath of regulations from the executive branch — from allowing the government to view the results of safety tests when developing models that could pose a threat to national security to improving watermarking for AI-generated content.

The White House release also said federal agencies have completed all of the 270-day actions outlined in the executive order.

These measures include a “plan for U.S. engagement abroad on AI standards” from the Department of Commerce and vulnerability assessments in “critical government systems and software” from the departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

“President Biden believes that we have an obligation to harness the power of AI for good, while protecting people from its potentially profound risks,” a senior administration official told reporters in October when the executive order was initially announced.

President Biden himself has gone on the record to demand AI companies “earn” the trust of the American public. 

“Artificial intelligence and the companies that wield its possibilities are going to transform the lives of people around the world — there’s no doubt about that,” Biden wrote on social media back in May. “But first, they must earn our trust.”

As the November elections approach, concerns are floating over the use of generative AI to misinform voters. In January, a digitally altered robocall using Biden’s voice circulated in New Hampshire urging residents not to vote.

“I commit to do everything in my power to promote and demand safe, secure, trustworthy, and responsible innovation — that includes the use of AI-generated audio,” the president continued. “I ask that AI companies join me in that commitment.”