During a speech in Washington, Microsoft President Brad Smith expressed deep concern about deepfakes, which are realistic yet false content created using artificial intelligence (AI). Smith called for measures to help people distinguish between real and AI-generated photos or videos, especially to combat foreign cyber influence operations. He emphasized the need to protect against the deceptive alteration of legitimate content using AI and suggested licensing critical forms of AI with obligations to ensure security, both physical and cyber. Smith also advocated for updated export controls to prevent the theft or misuse of AI models.
Lawmakers in Washington have been grappling with AI regulation while companies rush to bring increasingly powerful AI technologies to market. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, echoed these concerns during his testimony before Congress, highlighting the need for regulation to prevent AI from interfering with election integrity. Altman called for global cooperation on AI and incentives for safety compliance.
Smith emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for any negative consequences caused by AI. He urged lawmakers to implement safety mechanisms in AI systems used to control critical infrastructure, such as the electric grid and water supply, to ensure human control. Smith also proposed a “Know Your Customer”-style system for AI developers to track how their technology is used and inform the public about AI-generated content, enabling them to identify fake videos.
Various proposals under consideration in Congress focus on regulating AI applications that could pose risks to people’s lives or livelihoods, such as in medicine and finance. Additionally, there are efforts to establish rules preventing AI from being used for discrimination or violating civil rights.