A bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate Tuesday is seeking to codify guardrails around the Federal government’s effective and responsible procurement and use of AI.
The bipartisan Promoting Responsible Evaluation and Procurement to Advance Readiness for Enterprise-wide Deployment (PREPARED) for AI Act – introduced by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C. – will require agencies to assess and address the risks of their AI uses prior to buying and deploying the technology.
The PREPARED for AI Act builds on requirements from Sen. Peters’ Advancing American AI Act that became law in 2022.
“Artificial intelligence has the power to reshape how the Federal government provides services to the American people for the better, but if left unchecked, it can pose serious risks,” Sen. Peters said in a June 11 statement. “These guardrails will help guide Federal agencies’ responsible adoption and use of AI tools, and ensure that systems paid for by taxpayers are being used safely and securely.”
Specifically, the bill will require agencies to classify the risk levels of their AI uses, with a focus on protecting the public’s rights and safety. The bill will also require government contracts for AI capabilities to include safety and security terms for data ownership, civil rights, civil liberties and privacy, adverse incident reporting, and other key areas.
It also requires agencies to identify, test, and monitor potential risks before, during, and after they buy these tools – including through ongoing testing and evaluation to mitigate potential risks.
The bill requires agencies to establish AI governance structures, including chief AI officers, to lead and coordinate procurement efforts. The legislation would also establish pilot programs to streamline how agencies purchase AI and other commercial technology – bolstering innovative adoption.
Finally, the bill includes key provisions to encourage transparency of the government’s use of AI systems through public disclosures and reporting.
“As the role of artificial intelligence in the public and private sectors continues to grow, it is crucial Federal agencies have a robust framework for procuring and implementing AI safely and effectively,” Sen. Tillis said. “This legislation mandates clear guidelines for Federal agencies and provides them with the tools to successfully navigate future advancements in artificial intelligence.”
The PREPARED for AI Act comes more than two months after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued its finalized policy document for the use of AI within Federal agencies.
OMB’s first-of-its-kind guidance details AI use in five key areas: risk management; transparency; responsible innovation; workforce; and governance.
OMB has also been directed by the White House’s AI executive order to release guidance on responsible procurement of AI in government by the end of September.
