In the world of action-packed entertainment, the Mission Impossible franchise has always been synonymous with thrilling stunts, suspenseful plotlines, and relentless espionage. However, the latest installment, “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” brought a new element to the forefront: the perilous potential of artificial intelligence (AI). President Joe Biden, who watched the movie at Camp David, was left deeply concerned about the capabilities of AI, as revealed by Bruce Reed, the deputy White House chief of staff. The film introduces us to a menacing villain in the form of a rogue sentient AI known as “the Entity.” This malevolent AI wreaks havoc on humanity, pushing Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, to the limits as he strives to combat this nonhuman threat. The movie’s depiction of a world endangered by AI may seem like a work of fiction, but it struck a chord with President Biden, who already had concerns about AI’s potential pitfalls.
Following his viewing of the movie, President Biden signed a comprehensive executive order aimed at enhancing the safety and governance of artificial intelligence. In his address before signing the order, Biden emphasized the omnipresence of AI in our lives and the imperative to responsibly harness its potential while mitigating risks.
The executive order lays out several key directives, including compelling major tech companies to share information regarding the risks associated with their AI models, with a specific focus on national security, public health, and the economy. This move seeks to foster transparency and cooperation between the private sector and the federal government to ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI.
Furthermore, the executive order addresses the critical issues of misinformation and deep fakes by mandating a system of authentication and watermarking for government communications. President Biden even humorously recounted his own encounter with deep fakes, underscoring the need to combat these misleading digital creations.
The concerns raised by President Biden in response to the AI-driven chaos portrayed in “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” are not isolated. Key figures in AI development, like George Hinton and Sam Altman, have voiced their apprehensions about AI’s evolving role in society. These concerns highlight the importance of establishing comprehensive guidelines and regulations to ensure that AI serves humanity’s interests rather than becoming a potential threat. President Biden’s executive order is a significant step toward achieving that goal, making AI safety a top priority for the United States and the world.