This proposal is seen as a step towards treating computing power as a national resource. If implemented, it could benefit organizations like OpenAI and the RAND Corporation, which have been advocating for similar measures. However, critics argue it could lead to a surveillance program if not carefully executed. The White House and the Department of Commerce have declined to comment on the matter.
Key takeaways:
- The White House is considering an executive order that would require cloud computing firms to report certain customer information to the U.S. government, particularly when a customer purchases computing resources beyond a certain threshold.
- The proposed rules are aimed at enabling the U.S. government to identify potential AI threats in advance, especially those originating from foreign entities.
- The policy proposal could lead to treating computing power, which is crucial for AI systems, as a national resource.
- If implemented, the measure would be a victory for organizations like OpenAI and the RAND Corporation think tank, which have been advocating for similar know-your-customer mechanisms. However, some argue it could lead to a surveillance program if not carefully implemented.