The U.S. has issued an Executive Order that it calls “the most significant actions ever taken by any government to advance the field of AI safety.” In this podcast, we discuss Gartner’s analysis of the impact and actions that executives should prioritize and prepare for.
This TechWave podcast is based on Gartner’s research, The Impact of the “U.S. Executive Order on AI.”
U.S. President Joe Biden has issued an
Executive Order on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence
(the “EO”), which also underscores AI’s promise of innovation and competitive advantage. It specifically calls for Americans’ privacy and civil liberties’ protection, equity and civil rights advancement, and consumers’ and workers’ support, reinforcing the U.S. Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
The EO considers this “the most significant actions ever taken by any government to advance the field of AI safety.” The U.S. is sending a clear signal that AI and GenAI is far more than a disruptive technology; it has far-reaching consequences to impact every aspect of daily life, national and global economies, military matters, and the future of the planet. As such, unlike many other areas of technology or disruptive forces where government organizations have a low reaction time — this is different, and executives will be tested accordingly.
One way that our expert analyst, Lydia Clougherty Jones, euphemistically summarizes the message of the EO during the podcast is: “Step Up or Step Aside.” The overall message is that if you are in executive leadership, you have responsibilities with regard to AI. You must proactively take measures to be compliant and prevent harm. As such, “Even if you are not ready for AI, you need to be AI ready.”
Executives should adjust leadership priorities, reconcile AI investment with redistributed risk and prepare today for a more regulated tomorrow:
The EO will have a far and wide impact on AI strategy and the ROI on AI investment. It will alter and redistribute the risk of loss from AI harms considered too costly for AI benefit or value. It will also change corporate and individual behaviors arising from new regulatory frameworks, alongside the industry self-regulation we are already beginning to see take effect. Together, this creates an opportunity for new market solutions, but the oversight of vendors by the government and the commercial sector will be different. In the podcast, several examples are discussed.
Note: Gartner does not provide legal advice or services, and its research should not be construed or used as such. While this podcast involves a discussion on a topic that has many legal issues, Gartner does not provide or apply any legal rules or terms to its clients’ or prospects’ specific business.
Our host Frances Karamouzis is joined by our expert analyst Lydia Clougherty Jones, a senior research director in the Data and Analytics group. She covers data and analytics strategy, D&A value, and derisking, among many other topics. Importantly, Jones practiced law for two decades — with a focus on emerging technologies and business transformation — before joining Gartner. Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand that Gartner does not provide legal advice or services, and its research should not be construed or used as such. While this podcast involves a discussion on a topic that has many legal issues, Gartner does not provide or apply any legal rules or terms to its clients’ or prospects’ specific business.