Abstract:
Former U.S. President Barack Obama expressed support for federal laws and regulations governing the safety of artificial intelligence, warning that the technology could cause "potential disaster" if not managed properly. Obama said in a statement on Monday that artificial intelligence policy "should be at the center of the public debate" and noted that policymakers in Washington must "act proactively" and develop relevant plans "to address serious security issues, anticipate the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and the next generation, and ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence are widely shared."
The former president criticized the laissez-faire approach to AI regulation championed by current President Donald Trump. Although he did not name his successor, he said "voluntary standards set by a handful of technology companies are not enough."
An executive order signed by Trump in June established a voluntary participation framework that allows AI developers to open cutting-edge models to the government in advance so that potential security risks can be assessed.
Obama said: "Given what we know about the technology, we can't stuff artificial intelligence back into the box. But together we can decide how it should be developed and how it should be used, rather than sitting back and letting artificial intelligence and its consequences befall us."
Obama’s rare public statement is his most in-depth comment on artificial intelligence to date. Artificial intelligence has become a central topic in the national discussion in the United States, as industry leaders and members of Congress have called for slowing down the development of cutting-edge models.
Due to the lack of clear leadership within the Democratic Party, many Democrats still seek Obama's advice and guidance on policy and political strategy issues. By intervening in this debate, Obama is trying to shape the Democratic Party into a party that supports strengthened artificial intelligence security measures in preparation for the November midterm elections and the beginning of the 2028 presidential election cycle.
This stance would put the Democratic candidate in stark contrast to Trump. Trump has become increasingly vocal in his opposition to artificial intelligence regulation in recent times. In a series of posts on social media on Monday, he dismissed concerns about the existential risks of artificial intelligence as a "hoax."
It was reported last Sunday that Obama recently urged the Democratic leadership at a private fundraising event to formulate plans as soon as possible to make artificial intelligence a priority issue in the next few years, and said that 2028 presidential candidates should come up with a "clear plan" to deal with the security and economic challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
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