Under Trump, AI Scientists Are Told to Remove ‘Ideological Bias’ From Powerful Models | WIRED

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Key Changes in AI Research Agreements

Under the Trump administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) revised its cooperative research and development agreement for the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI). The updated agreement eliminates references to 'AI safety,' 'responsible AI,' and 'AI fairness,' instead prioritizing 'reducing ideological bias' to promote 'human flourishing and economic competitiveness.'

Shift in Focus

The new agreement removes mention of developing tools for authenticating content and tracking its provenance, indicating reduced interest in combating misinformation and deepfakes. It also emphasizes an 'America First' approach, encouraging the development of tools to enhance the US's global AI standing.

Concerns and Criticisms

Researchers express concern that ignoring issues like AI safety, fairness, and misinformation could lead to unchecked discriminatory algorithms, harming users. The removal of these priorities is seen as a significant shift away from responsible AI development. One researcher notes the ambiguity surrounding the phrase “human flourishing.”

Elon Musk's Influence

Elon Musk's involvement is highlighted, given his efforts to reduce government spending and his criticism of AI models developed by OpenAI and Google. Musk's past statements about AI bias are mentioned, along with his involvement with xAI, an AI company.

Impact and Broader Context

The article notes a growing body of research indicating that political bias in AI models affects both liberals and conservatives. It also mentions the activities of Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency," which has led to firings and document deletion in several government departments, including NIST.

  • Focus shifted from AI safety and fairness to economic competitiveness and reducing ideological bias.
  • Concerns raised about unchecked discriminatory algorithms.
  • Elon Musk's influence and criticism of AI models highlighted.
  • Broader context of political bias in AI and government actions mentioned.
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