Former artificial intelligence advisers from the Trump and Biden administrations are urging lawmakers to implement tighter export controls and mandatory safety audits to address AI security risks. Dean Ball and Ben Buchanan say the issue transcends partisan lines.
Dean Ball, who advised the Trump administration on AI policy, and Ben Buchanan, who held a similar role under President Biden, have jointly called for bipartisan legislative action on artificial intelligence security.
The two advisers are pushing for specific measures including stricter export controls on advanced AI technology and mandatory safety audits for high-risk systems. Their collaboration signals that AI governance concerns have gained traction across the political spectrum.
Export controls target preventing sophisticated AI models and computing hardware from reaching adversarial nations. Safety audits would require companies to assess potential harms before deploying large language models and other advanced systems.
Ball and Buchanan's joint statement underscores the growing recognition that AI regulation requires cross-party consensus. Both officials have experience navigating AI policy during transitions between administrations, giving them perspective on the continuity needed for long-term security frameworks.
The push comes as Congress continues debating how to regulate the rapidly advancing AI sector. Lawmakers have proposed various bills addressing transparency, liability, and national security implications of AI development.
Export restrictions face potential backlash from tech companies concerned about market competitiveness, while safety audit requirements could create compliance burdens for developers. However, proponents argue these measures are necessary to prevent misuse of advanced AI systems.
Ball and Buchanan's bipartisan approach reflects tensions within the tech policy community between innovation advocacy and security concerns. Their recommendation suggests a middle path: targeted restrictions on the most sensitive technologies paired with mandatory oversight mechanisms rather than broad regulatory restrictions.
The call for action arrives as the U.S. government works to establish coherent AI policy amid rapid technological development and international competition from China and the European Union, both pursuing their own regulatory frameworks.
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