The Commerce Department shouldn’t support overly strict export controls on new technology like artificial intelligence that could harm tech innovation and bolster bad actors like China, industry groups commented. The Bureau of Industry and Security published an advance NPRM in November, seeking comment by Thursday on potentially tighter export controls in docket 2018-25221. The department is exploring technology for conventional weapons, intelligence collection and weapons of mass destruction, including AI and machine learning (ML), microprocessors, advanced computers, data analytics, quantum computing, robotics and advanced surveillance.

The Commerce Department shouldn’t support overly strict export controls on new technology like artificial intelligence that could harm tech innovation and bolster bad actors like China, industry groups commented. The Bureau of Industry and Security published an advance NPRM in November, seeking comment by Thursday on potentially tighter export controls in docket 2018-25221. The department is exploring technology for conventional weapons, intelligence collection and weapons of mass destruction, including AI and machine learning (ML), microprocessors, advanced computers, data analytics, quantum computing, robotics and advanced surveillance.

Nearly 60 percent of Americans support police using facial recognition technology to find suspects if the software is correct 100 percent of the time, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reported Monday. Top facial recognition technology is now at least 99.8 percent accurate, the National Institute of Standards and Technology reported in November (see 1811210044). About 47 percent support the technology’s use for identifying suspects if it’s correct 90 percent of the time. About 54 percent of respondents disagreed government should strictly limit the technology “even if it means airports can’t use it to speed up security lines,” the survey found. An ITIF affiliate polled 3,151 U.S. adults online Dec. 13-16.

Nearly 60 percent of Americans support police using facial recognition technology to find suspects if the software is correct 100 percent of the time, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reported Monday. Top facial recognition technology is now at least 99.8 percent accurate, the National Institute of Standards and Technology reported in November (see 1811210044). About 47 percent support the technology’s use for identifying suspects if it’s correct 90 percent of the time. About 54 percent of respondents disagreed government should strictly limit the technology “even if it means airports can’t use it to speed up security lines,” the survey found. An ITIF affiliate polled 3,151 U.S. adults online Dec. 13-16.

Nearly 60 percent of Americans support police using facial recognition technology to find suspects if the software is correct 100 percent of the time, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reported Monday. Top facial recognition technology is now at least 99.8 percent accurate, the National Institute of Standards and Technology reported in November (see 1811210044). About 47 percent support the technology’s use for identifying suspects if it’s correct 90 percent of the time. About 54 percent of respondents disagreed government should strictly limit the technology “even if it means airports can’t use it to speed up security lines,” the survey found. An ITIF affiliate polled 3,151 U.S. adults online Dec. 13-16.

The administration should promote data-sharing when updating national artificial intelligence strategy (see 1812040056), industry groups and Amazon said in comments to the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program posted last week. Microsoft and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) voiced support for “de-identification” techniques for anonymous data gathering and sharing. Access to large data sets is essential for Al and machine learning research and development, Amazon said. The e-commerce platform also argued against policies and regulations that might “hamper” tech R&D. The Information Technology Industry Council called data the “gasoline that fuels AI engines,” cautioning that data and privacy concerns must be considered. Sharing data would allow industry to better train algorithms, ITI said. In 2018, the U.S. didn’t properly fund AI R&D, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s Center for Data Innovation said, citing better-financed competition from China, France and the U.K. Exposing source code for AI technology wouldn’t be useful, ITIF said, arguing “transparency guarantees neither accurate nor unbiased results.” The Software & Information Industry Association highlighted passage of the National Quantum Initiative Act, which President Donald Trump signed last week, authorizing $1.2 billion over five years for quantum activities across the federal government. People have a right to transparency, including data on human decision-making and the identities of groups behind the technology, EPIC said, offering 12 core principles endorsed by more than 200 experts and 50 NGOs. No group should be able to maintain “secret” profiling systems, and groups should be obligated to terminate a system if “human control of the system is no longer possible,” EPIC said. Echoing comments from EPIC, Microsoft backed de-identification data-sharing, or methods that preserve confidentiality, privacy and security. “However, AI systems that are used in contexts that involve people would need access to data about people to make informed decision[s],” Microsoft said.

The administration should promote data-sharing when updating national artificial intelligence strategy (see 1812040056), industry groups and Amazon said in comments to the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program posted last week. Microsoft and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) voiced support for “de-identification” techniques for anonymous data gathering and sharing. Access to large data sets is essential for Al and machine learning research and development, Amazon said. The e-commerce platform also argued against policies and regulations that might “hamper” tech R&D. The Information Technology Industry Council called data the “gasoline that fuels AI engines,” cautioning that data and privacy concerns must be considered. Sharing data would allow industry to better train algorithms, ITI said. In 2018, the U.S. didn’t properly fund AI R&D, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s Center for Data Innovation said, citing better-financed competition from China, France and the U.K. Exposing source code for AI technology wouldn’t be useful, ITIF said, arguing “transparency guarantees neither accurate nor unbiased results.” The Software & Information Industry Association highlighted passage of the National Quantum Initiative Act, which President Donald Trump signed last week, authorizing $1.2 billion over five years for quantum activities across the federal government. People have a right to transparency, including data on human decision-making and the identities of groups behind the technology, EPIC said, offering 12 core principles endorsed by more than 200 experts and 50 NGOs. No group should be able to maintain “secret” profiling systems, and groups should be obligated to terminate a system if “human control of the system is no longer possible,” EPIC said. Echoing comments from EPIC, Microsoft backed de-identification data-sharing, or methods that preserve confidentiality, privacy and security. “However, AI systems that are used in contexts that involve people would need access to data about people to make informed decision[s],” Microsoft said.

The administration should promote data-sharing when updating national artificial intelligence strategy (see 1812040056), industry groups and Amazon said in comments to the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program posted last week. Microsoft and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) voiced support for “de-identification” techniques for anonymous data gathering and sharing. Access to large data sets is essential for Al and machine learning research and development, Amazon said. The e-commerce platform also argued against policies and regulations that might “hamper” tech R&D. The Information Technology Industry Council called data the “gasoline that fuels AI engines,” cautioning that data and privacy concerns must be considered. Sharing data would allow industry to better train algorithms, ITI said. In 2018, the U.S. didn’t properly fund AI R&D, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s Center for Data Innovation said, citing better-financed competition from China, France and the U.K. Exposing source code for AI technology wouldn’t be useful, ITIF said, arguing “transparency guarantees neither accurate nor unbiased results.” The Software & Information Industry Association highlighted passage of the National Quantum Initiative Act, which President Donald Trump signed last week, authorizing $1.2 billion over five years for quantum activities across the federal government. People have a right to transparency, including data on human decision-making and the identities of groups behind the technology, EPIC said, offering 12 core principles endorsed by more than 200 experts and 50 NGOs. No group should be able to maintain “secret” profiling systems, and groups should be obligated to terminate a system if “human control of the system is no longer possible,” EPIC said. Echoing comments from EPIC, Microsoft backed de-identification data-sharing, or methods that preserve confidentiality, privacy and security. “However, AI systems that are used in contexts that involve people would need access to data about people to make informed decision[s],” Microsoft said.

The administration will soon publish public comments on the update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan expected in early spring, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Assistant Director-Artificial Intelligence Lynne Parker said Tuesday. The administration is pleased overall with the strategic plan inherited from the previous administration, Parker told an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation event. The overwhelming majority of comments are positive, she said: “We don’t need to overhaul the original plan.” The federal government can’t ignore significant AI investment from industry and R&D gaps, she said.

The administration will soon publish public comments on the update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan expected in early spring, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Assistant Director-Artificial Intelligence Lynne Parker said Tuesday. The administration is pleased overall with the strategic plan inherited from the previous administration, Parker told an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation event. The overwhelming majority of comments are positive, she said: “We don’t need to overhaul the original plan.” The federal government can’t ignore significant AI investment from industry and R&D gaps, she said.