In a recent consultation on the US government's artificial intelligence regulation, OpenAI clearly expressed its hope that the federal government can lead AI regulation. The company believes that unified federal regulation can not only promote innovation in the field of artificial intelligence in the United States, but also effectively reduce the inconsistency of regulations among states, thereby providing a more stable and consistent legal environment for the development of AI technology.
In this 15-page document, OpenAI specifically mentioned that China's AI regulatory measures could pose a threat to U.S. developers. Therefore, the United States should consider adopting a similar approach to strengthening regulation through close cooperation between the government and AI companies. OpenAI recommends that the government should establish a “sandbox” mechanism that allows U.S. startups to innovate under certain conditions while providing legal protections to avoid being restricted by increasingly strict regulations in states.
In addition, OpenAI also called on the government to provide U.S. AI companies with tools and intelligence support to address national security risks. The company stressed in the document that the federal government needs to protect the ability of U.S. AI models to leverage copyright materials during learning to maintain the U.S. leadership in the global AI field. However, the document also acknowledged that to achieve federal-level regulatory priorities, it is necessary to obtain the support of Congress.
The consultation is in response to the U.S. Office of Science and Technology’s request for the development of a federal AI action plan, and OpenAI’s response is part of more than 300 comments. Many analysts believe OpenAI's statement caters to the White House's expectations of developers being free to innovate and get rid of cumbersome state-level regulations.
Some analysts point out that states may enact stricter laws to protect citizens’ rights, privacy and security. In enterprise IT, unified regulation may reduce the compliance burden on enterprises, especially those operating around the world. Although OpenAI emphasizes simplification, it can also lead to greater complexity, especially when different regions have different legal requirements.
The infrastructure support mentioned by OpenAI, such as the modern American energy network, has also been recognized by industry analysts. Although experts have questioned this, believing that states’ regulation of AI is ultimately inevitable, OpenAI’s proposal is undoubtedly an attempt to centralize regulation.
Key points:
OpenAI argues that the federal government should prioritize AI regulation over states to promote innovation.
It is recommended that the government cooperate with the private sector to establish a "sandbox" mechanism and provide legal protection.
The document acknowledged that implementing federal priority requires Congress’ support.