VP Kamala Harris announces new requirements for how federal agencies use AI technology

Washington (CNN) – By the end of the year, travelers should be able to refuse facial recognition scans at airport security screenings without fear it could delay or jeopardize their travel plans. That’s just one of the concrete safeguards governing artificial intelligence that the Biden administration says it’s rolling out across the U.S. government, in a key first step toward preventing government abuse of AI. The move could also indirectly regulate the AI industry using the government’s own substantial purchasing power. On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a set of new, binding requirements for U.S. agencies intended to prevent AI from being used in discriminatory ways. The mandates aim to cover situations ranging from screenings by the Transportation Security Administration to decisions by other agencies affecting Americans’ health care, employment and housing. Related Stories Under the requirements taking effect on Dec. 1, agencies using AI tools will have to verify they do not endanger the rights and safety of the American people. In addition, each agency will have to publish online a complete list of the AI systems it uses and their reasons for using them, along with a risk assessment of those systems. The new policy from the...