Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Reactions to the Executive Order, published by Zvi on November 1, 2023 on LessWrong.

Previously:

On the Executive Order

This post compiles the reactions of others that I have seen to Biden's Executive Order on AI, including reactions that were based only on the fact sheet, as well as my reactions to those reactions.

Reaction on the worried side was measured. It could best be described as cautious optimism.

Reaction on the unworried side was sometimes measured, but often not measured. It could perhaps be frequently described as unhinged.

It continues to be odd to see so many voices react in such horror to the idea that the government might not ultimately adapt a fully laissez faire approach to AI.

Many of them collectively seem to be, essentially, treating a request for government reports on what might be done in the future, plus some very mild reporting requirements imposed exclusively on a few giant corporations, as if it inevitably means AI, nay computers in general, nay the very core of mathematics itself, will suffer the fate of NEPA or IRBs, a slippery slope of regulatory ratcheting until all hope for the future is extinguished.

I am unusually sympathetic to this view. Such things very much do happen. They very much do often happen slowly. They are indeed strangling much of our civilization. This is all very bad. Pick almost any other hill, everyone involved, where often this is actually already happening and doing great harm, and there are not the massive externalities of potentially everyone on the planet dying, and I would be happy to stand with you.

Alas, no, all that progress energy is focused on the one place where I fear it is deeply misguided. What should be the default viewpoint and voice of reason across the board is silenced everywhere except the one place I wish it was quieter.

I'll divide the post into three sections. First, the measured reactions, to the fact sheet and then the final executive order. Then those crying out about what can be pried from their cold dead hands.

Also here is a useful tool:

A compilation of all the deadlines in the EO

.

And here is a tool for navigating the EO

, file under things that could have been brought to my attention yesterday.

And before I begin: Yes, it is terrible that we keep Declaring Defense Production Act.

Fact Sheet Reactions

Vivek Chilukuri has a thread summarizing the fact sheet

.

Vivek Chilukuri: The EO is the Admin's strongest effort yet to lead by example in the responsible development and deployment of AI, allowing it to go into the UK Summit with a far more fleshed out policy after years of seeing other nations jump out ahead in AI governance.

The Admin's vision for AI development leans heavily into safety, privacy, civil liberties, and rights. It's part of an urgent but incomplete effort to offer a democratic alternative for AI development to counter China's AI model rooted in mass surveillance and social control.

At home, here's a few ways the EO strengthens US leadership by example:

Require companies working on advanced AI to share safety tests.

Develop safety and security standards through NIST

Guidance for agencies to use AI responsibly

Support privacy-preserving technologies

Abroad, the EO intensifies US efforts to establish international frameworks, shape international standard setting, and interestingly, promote safe, responsible, and rights-affirming AI development and deployment in other countries.

A note of caution. Going big on an Executive Order is one thing. Getting the execution right is another-especially for federal agencies with an acute shortage of AI expertise. The EO nods to hiring AI experts, but it's no small task when businesses already struggle to hire.

Jonas Schuett of GovAI has another

with screenshots of key parts.

Helen Toner has a good reaction thread

, noting the multit...