President Biden Calls for Action on AI Regulation Amid Deepfake Concerns

In a forceful State of the Union address on Thursday, President Joe Biden emphasized the need for increased action on artificial intelligence (AI) regulation in the United States. Alongside advocating for enhanced privacy laws and penalties for drug traffickers, Biden highlighted the importance of addressing AI's power and potential risks.

“I’ve signed over 400 bipartisan bills, but there’s more to do,” Biden said to a joint session of Congress. “Strengthen penalties on fentanyl trafficking. Pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online. Harness the promise of AI and protect us from its peril. Ban AI voice impersonation—and more.”

This call for action comes in the wake of an AI-generated deepfake robocall that targeted New Hampshire voters in January, imitating President Biden's voice. Lingo Telecom, the company responsible for the deepfake, faced a cease and desist order from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Subsequently, the FCC prohibited the use of AI in robocalls, particularly pertinent as the 2024 election season approached.

Recognizing the escalating threat of such calls and their potential to spread misinformation by mimicking voices of public figures, the FCC took a firm stance. The Biden Administration has been actively combating AI-generated deepfakes, bringing together leading AI developers in a commitment to responsible AI development.

Initiatives, such as the use of watermarking and cryptography to combat political disinformation, as well as the establishment of the AI Safety Institute Consortium, underscore Biden administration's dedication to addressing the challenges posed by AI technologies. Participants in these efforts include major tech companies like Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, OpenAI, and NVIDIA.