Staff Reports
In a bipartisan effort to counter China’s growing dominance in artificial intelligence (AI), two House lawmakers have proposed a new partnership between Western nations. The Five AIs Act, introduced by Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), aims to build upon the existing Five Eyes intelligence sharing program by creating a special alliance focused on AI.
Lawmakers want new Western alliance for AI to counter Chinahttps://t.co/hMzEgeigRo pic.twitter.com/fadIft2pLY
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 22, 2023
The Five Eyes collaboration, which includes the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, allows for the sharing of sensitive information among these countries. Gallagher and Khanna argue that it is crucial to extend this cooperation to AI development in order to prevent China from obtaining a technological advantage.
“The Chinese Communist Party must not be allowed to weaponize AI for its military ambitions and repressive surveillance states,” Gallagher emphasized. He added that it is important for the Free World to maintain leadership in AI innovation while implementing responsible safeguards.
In their proposal, the lawmakers call for the collaboration between the Defense Department and the intelligence community to establish this new international arrangement. The goal is to enhance coordination in the military and intelligence sectors for the responsible use of AI.
The field of artificial intelligence leverages statistical analysis and advanced computing to equip machines with the ability to execute complex tasks. While AI has been around for years, the recent proliferation of powerful AI products has motivated governments, militaries, and intelligence services to explore their applications.
The National Security Agency (NSA) already announced plans to create an AI Security Center, which will serve as the agency’s main hub for testing and evaluating AI. Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, director of the NSA, stated that the center will collaborate with select foreign partners, in addition to U.S. industry, national labs, academia, the Defense Department, and the intelligence community.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks revealed that the Pentagon began conducting AI tests before the popularization of ChatGPT, a conversational AI model. Some Defense Department components even developed their own AI models, which are currently undergoing testing and supervision by human operators.
With their proposed alliance, Gallagher and Khanna hope to establish a united front against China’s AI advancements. By pooling resources and expertise, the Western nations can mitigate the risks posed by the Chinese Communist Party’s use of AI technology.
