The recent Executive Order by the White House on the Safe Secure And Trustworthy Development And Use of Artificial-Intelligence (AI), otherwise known as the “EO”, addresses a wide range of equity and civil rights issues correlated to AI. The order consequently enacts certain commands to certify that AI goes on to foster equity and uphold civil rights.
According to this insightful commentary from Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on JD Supra, the Fact Sheet pairing with the EO encompasses some of the challenges and activities associated with it. The Fact Sheet directs multiple agencies to implement several actions including providing lucid guidance to landlords, federal benefit programs, and federal contractors, all with the intent of prohibiting the use of AI algorithms from propagating any form of discrimination.
With AI increasingly being used in numerous sectors, the possibility of it being utilized in ways that inadvertently (or otherwise) infringe civil rights has become a genuine concern. This particularly applies to areas such as housing where AI could potentially be used by landlords to vet prospective tenants, which could lead to unfair practices. Similarly, AI use in federal benefits programs could lead to biased decision making.
The new EO is expected to generate a significant shift in how such entities utilize AI, compelling them to be more diligent in their application of AI technology. It also sets the precedent for further action to be taken on a legislative level to ensure that AI advancement maintains an equitable approach that respects and upholds civil rights.