Anticipated executive order could give NSA a role in voluntary AI model testing

White House officials are planning a voluntary information-sharing framework between the government and AI developers to enable safety testing before AI models are deployed. The National Security Agency is expected to play a key role, including potentially conducting classified testing of models submitted by AI labs before public release. The framework is intended to help government officials evaluate advanced AI models for cyber-related risks, including whether the systems can assist with vulnerability discovery. The approach reflects internal balancing between stronger AI safeguards and a more hands-off stance to encourage innovation. The administration appears to prefer intelligence community leadership for model testing, amid reported disagreements between spy agencies and the Commerce Department over evaluation responsibilities.

"White House officials are planning a provision in a forthcoming artificial intelligence executive order that would establish a voluntary information-sharing framework between the government and AI developers to facilitate safety testing of AI models before deployment, according to multiple people familiar with the matter."

"The National Security Agency is expected to play a key role under the order and would potentially handle classified testing of models offered up by AI labs before those models are publicly distributed, said some of the people."

"Voluntary pre-deployment testing could give government officials an opportunity to evaluate advanced AI models for cyber-related risks before they are broadly released, including whether the systems can assist with vulnerability discovery."

"The deliberations over a voluntary framework underscore how the White House is trying to balance competing views within the administration, with some officials and allies pushing for stronger AI safeguards and others favoring a more hands-off approach to the technology to encourage innovation, a stance that's consistent with prior policy actions."

Read at Nextgov.com