What happened
The Trump administration is considering creating an artificial intelligence watchdog, similar to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, to regulate AI models. However, the current proposal only focuses on frontier models and does not address consumer tech, such as smart glasses. The author argues that the watchdog should be expanded to include consumer AI products, citing concerns over facial recognition and privacy.
Meta, the company behind smart glasses, had explored facial recognition technology but dropped it after backlash from organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union. The company has since announced plans to bring its encrypted computing system, Private Processing, to the glasses.
The author suggests that a federal regulator, similar to FINRA, could fill the gap in AI governance by setting standards, auditing members, and disciplining violators. This approach would provide clear rules for companies to follow, ensuring that consumers' privacy is protected.
The proposal has implications for the development of AI in the US, with some arguing that a patchwork of state laws could undermine American innovation. The author argues that a national standard, with clear rules and enforcement, is necessary to ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly.
