Transparent, approved and stoppable: A standard for government’s use of AI

State and federal agencies are now using artificial intelligence to help decide a host of life-altering issues such as who gets investigated for a crime and how law enforcement and the military direct their immense power. In most cases, no legislature voted to allow its use, no list tells the public what AI systems are being employed to help make these decisions, and no one knows for sure who can turn them off.

Bill Gates said last month that lawmakers need to establish mandatory “safeguards and monitoring” for AI use. A consensus on comprehensive AI regulation, though, seems far away, and rules for the companies building these tools will take time. But there is no reason the government cannot begin policing its own use of AI today. Lawmakers do not have to wait to safeguard and monitor government AI use. They can do that now as they debate other ways to respond to AI.

Hundreds of new lawmakers will take office in Congress and the states in January, many of whom campaigned on doing something to protect Americans from the risks of AI. We recommend they use their oversight and legislative powers to ensure that any AI system government uses to shape decisions about people’s lives and liberty is transparent, approved and stoppable. “Transparent” means its use and the underlying specifics appear on a list available to anyone. “Approved” means no AI system in government can go live unless it has been authorized through legislation or tested for safety........

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