Government officials revealed during an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security on Thursday that the United States, in collaboration with other nations, is actively involved in establishing global norms concerning the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This initiative stems from President Joe Biden's executive order last October, which aims to ensure the safe and trustworthy use of AI by federal agencies. The goal is to support the development of innovative capabilities while simultaneously mitigating potential dangers. At the event, Michael Kaiser, associate deputy assistant secretary for policy, strategy, and analysis at the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, emphasized the challenges of AI's "dual use" nature. While it has the potential to create new biological weapons, it can also drive significant societal breakthroughs. Kaiser mentioned that his office was tasked with producing a report on reducing AI risks related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, which was delivered to President Biden in April. The State Department has joined the efforts by issuing a political declaration on the "Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy. " This declaration, endorsed by 54 nations, including the U. S. , aims to establish international norms governing the use of AI tools, particularly in military contexts. Wyatt Hoffman, a foreign affairs officer in the State Department's Office of Emerging Security Challenges, highlighted the importance of defining practices that effectively reduce risks associated with AI usage, particularly by preventing unintentional failures and misplaced confidence in AI capabilities. Collaborative efforts to mitigate potential downsides of AI have also extended to nuclear command and control guardrails.

Hoffman noted commitments by the U. S. , France, and the United Kingdom to maintain human control and involvement in critical actions related to informing and executing sovereign decisions concerning nuclear weapons employment. The discussions held during the event followed the recent release of a report by CNAS that analyzed the national security risks posed by AI. The report recommended, among other things, that officials should plan for potential catastrophes abroad, especially those originating from China and related to catastrophic AI risks. Despite tense relations between the U. S. and China, Kaiser confirmed the willingness of the State Department to engage in dialogue with the People's Republic of China regarding military uses of AI and responsible mitigation of associated risks. This signifies a shared interest in addressing risks to strategic stability and risks of unintended engagements.