AI corps to adopt watermarking to distinguish fabricated pictures

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Jul 2023 17:09

A White House official announces that AI companies have committed to ensuring their safety by implementing watermarking systems.

Image generated by artificial intelligence in Tokyo on January 31, 2023 ( AFP)

The White House announced that prominent AI companies, including OpenAI, have pledged to ensure the safety of their technology by stamping watermarks on AI-generated images, as well as the development of other technical mechanisms to identify AI-generated content.

"These commitments, which the companies have chosen to undertake immediately, underscore three principles that must be fundamental to the future of AI -- safety, security, and trust -- and mark a critical step toward developing responsible AI," the White House said in a release.

Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI will join President Biden to announce their commitments to developing "robust technical mechanisms", a White House official announced.

"They're committing to setting up a broader regime towards making it easier for consumers to know whether the content is AI-generated or not," the official said, adding that "There is technical work to be done, but the point here is that it applies to audio and visual content, and it will be part of a broader system."

The companies involved will also conduct independent testing of their AI systems to identify potential risks related to biosecurity, cybersecurity, and societal impact. This move aims to address and mitigate any adverse effects AI technology may have on individuals, society, and national security.

The White House revealed that President Biden is working on an executive order that will further ensure the safety and trustworthiness of AI. This order is expected to complement the commitments made by AI companies, reinforcing the government's efforts to oversee the responsible development and use of AI technology.

It was reported earlier this week that the United Nations Security Council is preparing for its inaugural formal debate on AI in New York.

Under the leadership of the United Kingdom, currently holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council, there will be a call for a global dialogue regarding the implications of AI on worldwide peace and security.

Governments worldwide are grappling with the challenges brought about by the rapid advancement of AI technology, which has the potential to reshape the global economy and transform the dynamics of international security. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly presided over the discussion on July 18.

As part of these conversations, there have been suggestions to establish an international regulatory body for AI, drawing parallels to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This proposal has garnered support from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and some AI industry leaders during discussions in June.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has lately warned that recent advances in artificial intelligence posed a grave threat to human rights and called for safeguards to prevent violations.

Concurrently, more than 60 countries, including the US and China, demanded that AI be governed in defense so that it "does not undermine international security, stability, and accountability."