In a recent speech in Washington, Microsoft President Brad Smith highlighted his foremost concern regarding artificial intelligence (AI): deepfakes, which are convincingly realistic yet fabricated content. Smith emphasized the urgent need for measures that enable people to distinguish between genuine photos or videos and those generated by AI, particularly to counteract potential misuse or malicious activities.
Smith called for effective safeguards against the manipulation of authentic content with the intent to deceive or defraud individuals, specifically addressing the growing risk of foreign cyber influence operations conducted by governments such as Russia, China, and Iran.
Additionally, Smith advocated for licensing critical forms of AI, accompanied by obligations to protect various aspects of security, including physical security, cyber security, and national security. To prevent theft and violations of export control requirements, he stressed the necessity of evolving export controls or establishing new regulations.
Lawmakers in Washington have been grappling with the task of developing appropriate legislation to regulate AI, while companies of all sizes race to bring increasingly versatile AI technologies to market.
During a recent appearance before a Senate panel, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI—the organization behind ChatGPT—expressed significant concerns about the potential interference of AI with election integrity, emphasizing the need for regulation. Altman, whose OpenAI is supported by Microsoft, called for global cooperation on AI and the implementation of incentives to ensure safety compliance.
Smith also argued for accountability in cases where AI technology causes problems. He urged lawmakers to implement safety mechanisms to retain human control over critical infrastructure, such as the electric grid and water supply. Smith proposed the adoption of a “Know Your Customer”-style system for developers of powerful AI models, enabling oversight of technology usage and informing the public about AI-generated content to identify manipulated videos.
Various proposals under consideration in Congress focus on regulating AI applications that may pose risks to lives or livelihoods, particularly in fields such as medicine and finance. Additionally, there is a push for rules to prevent the discriminatory use of AI and violations of civil rights.