The rapid rise of open artificial intelligence tools, like ChatGPT, has brought this cutting-edge technology to the forefront of public attention. Duke University is a home to many leading voices in AI development, application and policy. Over the past year, Duke’s experts from across schools and departments have actively engaged with policymakers, industry professionals and thought leaders to shape the future of AI in ways that promote innovation while addressing societal concerns. Through research, collaboration, and public discourse, Duke is playing a unique role in this public moment helping to pave the way for responsible AI implementation across various sectors.

Over the past year, Duke’s experts have increasingly collaborated with external partners involved in the national effort to advance artificial intelligence technology. One of the first engagements  was John Bansemer, Director of the CyberAI Project, moderating a panel at a Cybersecurity Conference with Duke in DC. The event featured topics ranging from cyber national threats to women in cybersecurity to crypto/blockchain as disruptors.

Yiran Chen and Jeffery Krolik from Duke Engineering were among participants from the 25 National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes participating in the NSF AI Showcase last September. This event highlighted their work with Athena, a program centered on edge computing. As an example of this technology, Athena allows first responders to use edge technology to annotate maps of their environment in challenging situations to make them safer. The showcase also included remarks from NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan and Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

Panchanathan lauded the efforts of what he said was a decades-long investment into the NSF to develop artificial intelligence research and production. Duke’s engagement with policymakers continued the next day with advocacy meetings where researchers stressed the importance of federal lawmakers increasing funding support for NSF to keep the United States as a leader in AI development.

On October 30, the White House issued a sweeping executive order regulating artificial intelligence. The order “establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation and competition, advances American leadership around the world, and more.”

Duke executive in residence, Lee Tiedrich, spoke to students in Gross Gall about unpacking these new rules. She noted that the speed of governments responding around the world to AI’s development is unprecedented. This, Tiedrich attributes to lessons learned from the light touch approach applied to the emergence of social media in the early 2000s noting, “Now, governments around the world are looking at the potential risks with AI and saying, ‘We don’t want to do that again. We are going to have a seat at the table in developing the standards.’”

Later last fall, Rep. Valarie Foushee acknowledged Duke’s efforts in AI research during a congressional hearing on AI risk management. She emphasized that NSF funding is crucial to continue researching this emerging field. She subsequently joined Rep. Deborah Ross for an AI Roundtable back in Durham to discuss federal guardrails and ways to support innovation, which featured Duke Engineering faculty Cynthia Rudin and Shaundra (Shani) Daily.

Around this time, Rep. Ross also cosponsored HR 5077 Create AI Act, which authorizes the construction of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource and democratizes AI use for all.

A month later, in Washington, DC, Syracuse held an inaugural meeting for the Academic Alliance on AI Policy. Yiran Chen from Duke Engineering served with many other esteemed colleagues on the steering committee. Duke’s role in this academic advisory board is significant, as it is formed to serve as a resource for lawmakers, policymakers, and others seeking to regulate and better understand AI. The symposium’s topics were the new alliance and AI policy, how AI will affect the future of work, and its impact on the 2024 presidential election.

Most recently, the Duke in DC office hosted a roundtable in partnership with the Office of Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) on AI open hardware, open software and infrastructure policies. A group of industry stakeholders, including the director of the United States AI Safety Institute and Duke alumna Elizabeth Kelly, discussed the current state of AI policy and how to best ensure that sufficient computing capacity is deployed responsibly to promote AI competition and access throughout society, and made accessible to groups that historically have faced challenges obtaining capital and other vital resources. Attendees also discussed how to address the growing adverse environmental impacts of AI systems.

After the roundtable, Duke in DC also served as a convener for a gathering hosted by the Pratt School of Engineering, Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Inria. The workshop sought to create a foundation for crafting policy, technical, and other solutions that can unlock innovation and promote research and social good, while mitigating risks, including to IP and other rights.

As we look back on the past year, from policy panels and legislative roundtables to innovative research collaborations, Duke continues to play a crucial role in conversations around responsible AI development and its broader implications. Duke is contributing to technological progress and ensuring that AI’s growth is aligned with societal needs and ethical considerations. Looking ahead, the university’s leadership in AI will no doubt continue to influence policy, research, and practice, ensuring a secure and equitable future for all.

By Christina Barrow, October 24, 2024