NTIA Supports Open Models to Promote AI Innovation

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued policy recommendations embracing openness in artificial intelligence (AI) while calling for active monitoring of risks in powerful AI models.

NTIA’s Report on Dual-Use Foundation Models with Widely Available Model Weights recommends the U.S. government develop new capabilities to monitor for potential risks, but refrain from immediately restricting the wide availability of open model weights in the largest AI systems.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is pulling every lever to maximize the promise of AI while minimizing its risks,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Today’s report provides a roadmap for responsible AI innovation and American leadership by embracing openness and recommending how the U.S. government can prepare for and adapt to potential challenges ahead.”

“The openness of the largest and most powerful AI systems will affect competition, innovation and risks in these revolutionary tools,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “NTIA’s report recognizes the importance of open AI systems and calls for more active monitoring of risks from the wide availability of model weights for the largest AI models. Government has a key role to play in supporting AI development while building capacity to understand and address new risks.”

“Open-weight” models allow developers to build upon and adapt previous work, broadening AI tools’ availability to small companies, researchers, nonprofits, and individuals. The President’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence directed NTIA to review the risks and benefits of large AI models with widely available weights, and to develop policy recommendations maximizing those benefits while mitigating the risks.  

The recommendations in NTIA’s report will promote innovation and access to this technology while positioning the U.S. government to quickly respond to risks that may arise from future models.  

To monitor for emerging risks, the report calls for the U.S. government to develop an ongoing program to collect evidence of risks and benefits, evaluate that evidence, and act on those evaluations, including possible restrictions on model weight availability, if warranted.  

For more information, see a fact sheet on the report and the full text of the report.  

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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration    

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.