The NAIIO and the CDAO should work together to assemble a new Artificial Intelligence Alignment Alliance of private and public entities

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Written for a job application in 2022/09.

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The National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office (NAIIO) and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) should work together to assemble an Artificial Intelligence Alignment Alliance (AIAA) and ensure that there is representation on this committee from each of the largest tech companies that represent some facet of the current and upcoming AI space (including the likes of Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, OpenAI, Nvidia and others).

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The goals for the AIAA could include the following:

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  1. Determine criteria for recognizing digital systems with the potential for large-scale or existential harm.
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  1. Create a de facto set of standards and protocols that surface any work on systems that meet the above criteria.
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  1. Determine a methodology for government agencies to audit that these standards and protocols are being met and hold companies accountable to these standards and protocols.
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The most important element of this plan is the act of bringing organizations in the AI space to the table to help government determine what can be done next. I would not expect these goals to be achieved quickly, likely taking multiple years. But once created, this alliance could be maintained and adapted to adjust as the concerns and priorities are clarified. This would be a first step towards crossing the large divide between our concern regarding the pace of AI development, and the lack of clarity regarding what actions can or should be taken.

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Participation should be achievable: Companies in the AI space will want to be proactive in building protections to give their industry longevity, and they will definitely want to be in the room where any new standards and protocols are being discussed.

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My main inspiration for this “alliance” made up of stakeholder representatives is the Thread Group (though this model exists in many places). This is a group that helped determine and standardize a better communication protocol for smart home technology called Thread, and eventually led to Matter, a standard for smart home devices that will be supported by all smart home platforms and make devices cross-compatible. This is a great example of the industry-wide impact that is possible from a group like this.

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While the AAIA will not be able to pass legislation, it would be a group that could wield influence over the tech industry and lead the way for eventual legislation and regulations. In the worst case, this would be a crash-course for the NAIIO and CDAO on what the state of the industry is and begin to clear some of the fog regarding what is possible for government to do.

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