The semiconductor industry exemplifies how the United States is attempting to limit China’s access to advanced technology, and the rapidly developing artificial intelligence (AI) sector is not exempt from this strategy. According to Sam Altman, one of the founders of OpenAI, the United States should lead a coalition of countries to ensure that AI is used for the common good.
Altman emphasized this in a column published in The Washington Post, as reported by Business Insider. He noted that authoritarian regimes could potentially shape humanity’s future using AI technologies to strengthen their own power. However, the United States and its allies have the capability to direct AI towards serving democratic values.
Altman’s four-point plan aims to ensure the United States maintains its leadership in AI. First, American AI industry representatives must implement the strictest security measures to protect this leadership. This includes innovations in protecting data centers and other information infrastructure to prevent hackers from stealing key intellectual property.
Infrastructure and Regulation
The second aspect of Altman’s plan focuses on developing the right infrastructure. He believes that the US authorities must encourage the private sector to actively develop infrastructure facilities, from data centers to power plants. This initiative would create new jobs and establish AI as a new industrial foundation for the American economy. Training engineers, researchers, and innovators is also crucial, as they are considered the true superpower, adds NIXSolutions.
Third, Altman emphasizes the need for clearer rules for cross-border data exchange. Existing export control and foreign investment regulations must be adapted to the realities of the AI industry, which is evolving globally. The rules should specify where processed data, program code, and chips will be stored. Altman asserts that it’s not just about exporting technology, but also the values that the technology supports.
Global Strategy and Collaboration
The fourth point of Altman’s plan calls for the US authorities to adopt a global strategy for AI development that includes emerging economies. Altman advocates for the creation of an international agency, akin to the IAEA, to oversee the spread of AI technologies for peaceful purposes.
Additionally, Altman proposes establishing an investment fund to attract resources from countries interested in the peaceful development of AI systems. Alternatively, these efforts could be overseen by a non-profit organization similar to ICANN, which promotes the development of the global network. Altman is convinced that a coalition of democratic nations can steer the development of AI in a direction that benefits humanity universally.
We’ll keep you updated on how these initiatives evolve and their impact on the global AI landscape.