Explainer video: How do Trump and Harris differ in AI policy? – News

Artificial intelligence may not be a defining issue for U.S. voters, but it made headlines after this month’s presidential debate when Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris, saying her fear of misinformation about AI prompted her to speak out.

Swift said a fake social media image posted by former President Donald Trump in August that appeared to show her urging people to vote for him prompted her to clarify her intentions in the face of misinformation spread by artificial intelligence.

Democratic Vice President Harris, a Californian with ties to Silicon Valley, takes a cautious approach to AI innovation while promoting American leadership in technology.

Republican candidate Trump tends to favor deregulation, although he also sees a threat from global rivals, especially China, in the field of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.

So what would a Trump or Harris presidency mean for AI?

What is Harris’ position?

During the presidential debate, Harris emphasized the need to invest in “American-based technology” so that the United States could win “the 21st century competition” or the “race for artificial intelligence and quantum computing.”

But if Harris wins, she will likely take a cautious approach to AI, as her predecessor, President Joe Biden, did.

Last October, Biden signed an executive order to reduce the risks AI poses to consumers, workers, minority groups and national security.

The order directed federal agencies to set new high standards for AI safety, protect equity and civil liberties in AI, and promote competitive markets in the industry.

Like Biden, Harris views technology as a national security issue and sees China as the greatest threat to US dominance.

In June, the Biden administration released a draft rule to ban or require reporting on certain investments in AI and other technology sectors in China that could endanger U.S. national security.

In her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, Harris linked AI to a battle for dominance with China.

“I will ensure that we lead the world into the future in space and artificial intelligence. That America – not China – wins the competition of the 21st century. And that we strengthen our global leadership role and do not abandon it,” she said.

The Democratic Party’s policy platform said a Harris administration would be determined to “harness the promise of AI and manage its risks” to ensure it serves the public interest.

“While AI is helping to cure diseases, predict the weather and transform education, it is also being used to clone voices, commit fraud, institutionalize bias and undermine democracy,” it says.

The political program also states that workers should have a say in how AI is used in their workplace and should be fairly involved in all the economic benefits that AI brings.

Harris has previously raised concerns about discrimination or bias related to AI, and the Biden administration has released a draft AI Bill of Rights and issued new guidelines to combat algorithmic discrimination.

“Vice President Harris’ concerns about the harmful effects of AI are valid, as bias in AI can disproportionately harm marginalized communities,” Clara Langevin, AI policy expert at the Federation of American Scientists, a policy research and advocacy group, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The Democrats’ political platform states that a Harris administration will continue to advocate for safe AI development and invest in the AI ​​Safety Institute to develop policies and best practices to minimize AI risks.

A democratic government would also ban voice imitation and take measures to strengthen protections in critical sectors such as healthcare, financial services, housing, education and transport.

Voice imitation is a thorn in the side of politicians in particular. The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission called on telecommunications companies to take action against fraudulent political robocalls that use artificial intelligence.

What would a Trump administration mean for AI?

Trump is pushing for less stringent regulation of AI and has said he will reverse Biden’s executive order and ban the use of AI “to censor the free speech of American citizens from day one.”

“The next administration, be it Trump or Harris, must be confident,” she said.