White House to study benefits and risks of AI, ways to improve government

May 13, 2016

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has announced plans to co-host four public workshops to spur public dialogue on artificial intelligence and machine learning, and to learn more about the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence, according to Ed Felten, a Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer.

These four workshops will be co-hosted by academic and non-profit organizations; two will also be co-hosted by the National Economic Council, with a public report later this year. They will be livestreamed:

A “more effective government”

The Federal Government also is “working to leverage AI for public good and toward a more effective government.” A new National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence will monitor state-of-the-art advances and technology milestones in artificial intelligence and machine learning within the Federal Government, in the private sector, and internationally; and help coordinate Federal activity in this space.

The NSTC group also hopes to increase the use of AI and machine learning to improve the delivery of government services, especially in areas related to urban systems and smart cities, mental and physical health, social welfare, criminal justice, and the environment.