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Researchers sound alarm on dual-use AI for defense

In the paper, published by the AI Now Institute, authors Heidy Khlaaf, Sarah Myers West, and Meredith Whittaker point out the growing interest in commercial AI models—sometimes called foundation models—for military purposes, particularly for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. They argue that while concerns around AI’s potential for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons dominate the conversation, big commercial foundation models already pose underappreciated risks to civilians.

“Everything converges with a handful of US corporations”

How can Europe keep up with the USA and China in artificial intelligence? That is the wrong question, says the organization AI Now. Before Europe invests hundreds of billions in AI, it should be clarified who benefits from it.

Time100/AI 2024

Amba Kak, Co-Executive Director of AI Now listed among Time100’s most influential people in AI in 2024.

The AI industry is pushing a nuclear power revival — partly to fuel itself

“I want to see innovation in this country,” Myers West said. “I just want the scope of innovation to be determined beyond the incentive structures of these giant companies.”

Women in AI: Sarah Myers West says we should ask, ‘Why build AI at all?’

At many points in my career, I’ve wondered, “Why are we getting locked into this very dystopian vision of the future?” The answer has little to do with the tech itself and a lot to do with public policy and commercialization.

AI Now Co-ED Amba Kak Included on Time 100 AI 2024 List

AI Now Statement on Sen. Schumer’s AI Roadmap

Office Hours: AI Now Is Hiring

AI Now Speech at CAIDP 2024 AI Policy Awards

How Big Tech is winning the AI talent war

“It is not going to be about who has the best model but who has the best infrastructure and platform-play with access to the consumer,” Kak says. “Inflection and Mistral are the barnacles on the hull of Big Tech.”

AI Now Team Updates

The AI industry is pushing a nuclear power revival — partly to fuel itself

“If you were to integrate large language models, GPT-style models into search engines, it’s going to cost five times as much environmentally as standard search,” said Sarah Myers West, managing director of the AI Now Institute, a research group focused on the social impacts of AI. At current growth rates, some new AI servers could soon gobble up more than 85 terawatt hours of electricity each year, researchers have estimated — more than some small nations’ annual energy consumption.

AI could disrupt the election. Congress is running out of time to respond

Absent congressional action, the task will fall to other government bodies — such as consumer protection agencies and financial regulators — to try to regulate AI under existing laws, said Sarah Myers West, managing director of the AI Now Institute and a former AI advisor to the Federal Trade Commission.

Op-ed: The Problem With Public-Private Partnerships in AI

Companies first need to do a better job of demonstrating the technology’s societal benefits.

What to know about landmark AI regulations proposed in California

"It's great to see the focus on addressing and mitigating harms before they go into the market," Myers West told ABC News.

How Walmart, Delta, Chevron and Starbucks are using AI to monitor employee messages

“No company is essentially in a position to make any sweeping assurances about the privacy and security of LLMs and these kinds of systems,” Kak said. “There is no one who can tell you with a straight face that these challenges are solved.”

Former FTC AI Advisor Reflects on Tech’s Tricky & Faulty Incentive Structure

"We need to effectively shift the incentive structures to ensure the companies are accountable to the public."

FTC focused on competition and dominance in generative AI space

Amba Kak, Executive Director of the AI Now Institute, explained that without sufficient funding, smaller companies will not be able to strike deals with third parties for valuable high quality data used to train models, and will be unable to compete with well-funded firms that are able to maximize access to publishers and the media industry and push for exclusivity with respect to data access.