Pentagon Technology Chief Says Export Controls Can Keep AI Labs in Line
Emil Michael, who handles the White House AI task force's dealings with the labs, said export controls are an appropriate stick for AI companies that do not cooperate with the government.
Emil Michael, who handles the White House AI task force's dealings with the labs, said export controls are an appropriate stick for AI companies that do not cooperate with the government.
Export controls are an appropriate tool against AI labs that do not cooperate with the government, Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael told The Information in a video interview published Oct. 19.
Michael is under secretary of war for research and engineering and a vice chair of the White House's new Super Intelligence Force. His remit covers the government's relationship with the labs and how they report incidents, The Next Web noted. The task force adopted its charter Oct. 15 and opened a 120-day review of cybersecurity, biosecurity and model accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Emil Michael?
The under secretary of war for research and engineering, the Pentagon's chief technology officer, and a vice chair of the White House's Super Intelligence Force, responsible for the government's relationship with AI labs.
What did he say about export controls?
Asked in a video interview with The Information whether export controls were an appropriate way to keep AI companies in line, Michael said they were, citing past limits on encryption exports.
Has the government used export controls on an AI lab before?
Michael said Anthropic was placed under export controls within two hours of refusing to pull back a jailbroken model. Other accounts describe a different trigger, and the restrictions were later lifted, ROIC.ai reported.
Is there a new export rule for AI labs?
No legal instrument has been published, and Michael did not say what would trigger controls or which products they could cover.
What is the Super Intelligence Force reviewing?
The task force adopted its charter on Oct. 15 and launched a 120-day review covering cybersecurity, biosecurity and model accountability, including protocols for labs to report breaches and hacks.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.