NEWS

November saw another slew of tech policy developments in the US. Artificial intelligence (AI), in particular, dominated the headlines:

• After President Biden signed a historic executive order on AI in late October, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) started the month by releasing draft guidance to help federal agencies implement new governance structures and advance AI innovation. 
• The US co-led the joint release of a non-binding international agreement among 18 countries that aims to keep AI safe throughout development and deployment cycles. 
• President Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss numerous issues, including the dangers posed by the use of AI in military operations. 
• Following the release of the AI executive order, federal agencies launched hiring initiatives to identify chief AI officers, with a projected 400+ officials needed to fill all posts. 
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) held three additional AI Insights Forums, which covered a range of topics including election, privacy, transparency, and intellectual property issues. (Learn more about each forum using the Tech Policy Press AI ‘Insight Forum’ Tracker.)
• At the state level, the California Privacy Protection Agency released draft regulations for businesses using AI, including a host of consumer protections. 
• OpenAI suddenly dismissed CEO Sam Altman, only to reinstate him less than a week later. His reinstatement was also accompanied by board changes, prompting wider calls to diversify the new board’s representation. Before agreeing to return, Altman had accepted a leadership role on Microsoft’s advanced AI research team. On the same day Altman was removed, the company disclosed it hired its first federal lobbyists.

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