The national AI advisory committee, comprised of committee members appointed by the president of the United States, serves to provide information on competitiveness, the status of science, and general AI-related workforce issues. In 2022, a total of 27 members were appointed, although the impact of AI on the economy and culture was not significant.
The committee’s main focus is on promoting AI literacy, as the emergence of artificial intelligence has brought attention to its potential impact on people’s daily lives. This prompted the establishment of the committee to guide the development of AI, which has become a topic of global interest.
Reggie Townsend, a committee member from the SAS Institute Inc., acknowledged that technology inevitably brings disruption, but emphasized the importance of managing it in a sustainable manner. Townsend discussed this topic during a live stream on SAS Innovate, a broadcast platform by SiliconJECT Media, along with Miriam Vogel, the president and CEO of EqualAI. Together, they highlighted the committee’s efforts in advocating for citizens’ roles in AI-related processes.
One of the committee’s key functions is to ensure citizen participation in AI regulation, with Vogel emphasizing the need for an open and consensus-based approach. She encourages community involvement and emphasizes that people can follow the committee’s work through livestreamed meetings on the committee’s website.
Vogel also emphasizes that the current situation is not business as usual and calls for active participation from everyone. She acknowledges the high stakes involved and expresses confidence that people will rise to the challenge. She emphasizes that without increased participation in the AI economy, there will be a shortage of skilled workforce and a weak economy.
The chair of the committee believes that while regulating technology in areas like healthcare offers promising opportunities, it also poses risks to human life. Vogel supports well-crafted regulations, as they can ultimately foster public confidence and drive innovation. She cites an example of AI aiding in cancer risk assessment, where proper checks can reduce costs by 50% and increase benefits by 40%. The goal is to ensure that these systems bring happiness to people and deliver the expected benefits of a democratic society.
