The White House Executive Order on AI

Order Overview

The White House's Executive Order on AI outlines five major areas of action, including increased funding for AI research, data accessibility, and workforce training. Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson note the lack of detailed implementation plans, which raises concerns about the order's effectiveness. Benson points out that while the order promotes AI R&D, it lacks specifics on execution, stating, "It kind of states the obvious on what we need to do in the background without making any kind of leap or strong directive in a detailed sense." 1 2

   

Order Origins

The origins of the executive order suggest input from key figures like Dr. Lynn Parker, yet the document reflects limitations in authority and resources. Benson speculates that the order was crafted by knowledgeable individuals but lacked the power to enforce concrete changes. He expresses sympathy for the authors, noting, "I think it has to be a very tough job to be in a government advisement position and understand the implications of some of these technologies without really having a whole lot available to do something with it." 3

   

Strategy Comparison

The US's national AI strategy, as outlined in the executive order, appears to lag behind other countries like China and Canada. Whitenack and Benson express disappointment over the lack of a powerful national vision akin to historical initiatives like the moonshot. Benson remarks, "I would have loved to have seen something along the lines of John Kennedy's moonshot speech to Congress." 4 5

   

Impact Assessment

The executive order's impact is questioned due to its lack of actionable steps and funding. Whitenack is skeptical about the order's ability to drive change without concrete funding and programs. He hopes for future steps that provide actionable items, stating, "I'm skeptical that this executive order on its own will change anything." 6