State and Local Leaders Call for Responsible AI Implementation in White House Letter
The quickly-growing field of artificial intelligence (AI) technology presents huge opportunities for both governments and the private sectors, as well as potential dangers. In response to a nationwide request for input, the co-chairs of the NewDEAL Forum’s AI Task Force submitted a letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy outlining key recommendations related to AI. The co-chairs of the task force are:
Dr. Dorcey Applyrs, Chief City Auditor, Albany, NY
Alex Bores, District 73 Assemblymember, New York
Matt Mahan, Mayor, San Jose, CA
“The recommendations in this letter are drawn from the experiences of state and local elected officials across the nation, as well as our conversations with private sector and non-profit experts in the field,” the co-chairs wrote. “It is our sincere hope that this administration provides a policy framework that both helps secure a brighter future for American families while also providing appropriate guardrails to protect these same families from potential harm, all while allowing AI technology to flourish.”
The letter included policy recommendations in three key areas:
Making Government More Efficient: Federal agencies like the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs are already using AI to increase efficiency. Federal agencies should continue to innovate with AI with particular emphasis on data security and privacy.
Focus on data privacy and security. The federal government should set the gold standard when it comes to data privacy and security.
Promote Collaboration and Information Sharing: The White House should take a leading role in convening stakeholders from state and local governments, non-profit groups, the private sector, and federal agencies to learn from each other and regularly share best practices.
Incentivize AI Adoption: The federal government should incentivize state and local governments to provide assistance and opportunities for employees to understand and implement AI initiatives related to creating more government efficiencies and impactful services.
Election Security: To safeguard the integrity of our electoral processes, the federal government must take decisive action to mitigate risks posed by AI while not impinging on First Amendment protections of Americans.
Mandate Disclaimers for AI-Generated Political Content: The federal government should establish a nationwide standard requiring clear and conspicuous disclaimers on all AI-generated content used in political campaigns.
Support Rapid Response Mechanisms: The federal government should provide funding and resources to state and local election officials to establish rapid response teams capable of quickly identifying and countering AI-generated disinformation campaigns.
Establish a Content Verification System: The federal government should invest in the adaptation of a “digital marker” or similar verification system to ensure the authenticity of official election-related communications, such as the C2PA standard, an open-source technical specification endorsed by leading tech companies and some states.
Increase Funding for Cybersecurity: The federal government should allocate additional funding to enhance cybersecurity measures for state and local election infrastructure to protect against AI-driven cyber threats.
AI Regulation: The federal government can support and promote AI growth while taking necessary steps to mitigate potential harms through appropriate regulations — in the same way that seat belt and air bag technologies improved automobile safety without compromising innovation and advancement.
Implement Algorithmic Accountability Measures: The federal government should require companies and government agencies to conduct regular audits of their AI systems to ensure they are free from bias.
Prioritize Equity and Inclusion: If America is going to be dominant in the global AI landscape, we must ensure that the technology addresses the needs of ALL Americans. This means that AI policies must be developed and implemented in a way that promotes equity and inclusion, addressing the needs of traditionally underserved populations.
The NewDEAL Forum AI Task Force launched in the summer of 2024, and has since brought together state and local elected officials along with experts from non-profits and the private sector to explore AI’s potential to make government work better. The group’s efforts underscore the significant role and opportunities for state and local governments when it comes to advancing the potential of AI while mitigating potential harms.
