US Prez Joe Biden is freaked out by AI after Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning has emerged as a catalyst for US President Joe Biden's mounting concerns about the far-reaching implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Tom Cruise’s action-packed blockbuster has given the POTUS jitters over the consequences of unchecked evolution of AI.

What

Recently, the US President’s cinematic escapades had him enraptured by Christopher McQuarrie’s summer blockbuster. 

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• The film's villain, dubbed "the Entity," is no ordinary antagonist. It's a sentient and rogue AI that kickstarts the plot by sinking a submarine and bidding farewell to its crew. Not exactly a reassuring plotline for your average AI enthusiast clearly.

Warning signs

Biden's AI-related worries had already been stirred by encounters with AI deepfakes, including ones that impersonated his own voice and likeness. 

• During a recent address where he signed an executive order aimed at regulating AI, he humorously quipped about watching an AI-generated video of himself and wondering when he had ever uttered those words. 

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However, he quickly transitioned from jest to a more somber tone, emphasizing the profound implications of AI's capabilities and noted how a mere three-second voice recording could be used to fabricate entire, convincing conversations, potentially leading to scams that prey on the trust of loved ones.

Biden's response

So, what's a President to do when faced with such AI-induced anxieties? 

In response to these concerns, Biden's has issued an executive order that introduces significant measures to address the challenges posed by AI technology. 

• It requires AI companies to share the results of their safety tests with the US government, a move intended to enhance transparency and accountability within the industry. 
• The order also calls for the development of best practices designed to strike a balance between the benefits and potential harms of AI, although the enforceability of these practices remains uncertain. 
• The executive order's relevance extends to the ongoing labor disputes in Hollywood, where AI usage is a contentious topic, with studios seeking flexibility in their utilization of the technology.

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• Moreover, the executive order endeavors to combat deepfakes by directing the Department of Commerce to establish standards for authentication and watermarking. 

While it doesn't force AI companies to slap labels on their AI-generated content, it directs the Department of Commerce to whip up some standards for authentication and watermarking. At least these efforts are a step toward enhancing the discernibility of AI-manipulated media.

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In a nutshell, President Biden went from a movie night in Camp David to signing executive orders aimed at taming AI's wild side. He's all for the promise of AI but knows we need some guardrails to avoid the pitfalls. Because at the end of the day, AI isn't just science fiction anymore; it's part of our everyday lives, and it's up to us to steer it in the right direction.

The untitled follow-up to Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning has reportedly dropped the “Part 2” from its name and is set to drop summer 2024 with a fresh title to be announced.