President Joe Biden emphasized the urgency of regulating artificial intelligence, including proposing a ban on AI voice impersonations during his recent State of the Union address.

In a resolute State of the Union speech, President Biden stressed the necessity for the United States to take decisive action in addressing the influence of artificial intelligence. Alongside highlighting his policy priorities, Biden pushed for enhanced privacy regulations and stricter penalties for drug traffickers.

During his address to a joint session of Congress, Biden expressed, "I’ve signed over 400 bipartisan bills, but there's more to do. Strengthen penalties on fentanyl trafficking. Pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online. Harness the promise of AI and protect us from its peril. Ban AI voice impersonation—and more."

Furthermore, President Biden’s voice was maliciously exploited in an AI-generated deepfake robocall aimed at New Hampshire voters in January.

Following this incident, the company responsible for the deepfake, Lingo Telecom, received a cease and desist order from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Subsequently, the FCC enacted a ban on utilizing AI in robocalls as the 2024 election season intensified.

In response to the escalating threat of AI-generated deepfakes, the Biden Administration has actively worked to combat this issue. Last year, the White House convened key generative AI developers—including industry leaders like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia—to commit to responsible AI development.

In an effort to combat political disinformation, the Biden Administration announced plans to implement watermarking and cryptography. Additionally, Biden unveiled the establishment of the AI Safety Institute Consortium in collaboration with prominent tech giants such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, among others.

While Biden has been vocal in his criticisms of AI, he is not alone in expressing concerns. Even former President Donald Trump, Biden's rival in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, has voiced apprehensions about AI, labeling it as "so scary" in an interview with Fox Business.

Moreover, Pope Francis has joined the ranks of those cautioning against generative AI, particularly after experiencing AI-generated deepfake images, alongside Biden and Trump.

Pope Francis emphasized the importance of managing technological advancements to uphold fundamental human rights and preserve institutions and laws that foster holistic human development. Stressing that artificial intelligence should enhance human potential and aspirations rather than diminish them.

image source : Aniekanabasi