Of all the projects that might be suitable for Kamala Harris to “head up” at the White House, you’d think it would be something she could handle. You know, like making sure all White House vehicles aren’t parked on the wrong side of the street during street sweeping Thursdays. I bet she wouldn’t screw that up too much if she really tried. Or maybe even handling something more substantial, like making sure Joe Biden’s dog Commander is up to date on his rabies shots.
Potentially saving all of humanity from destruction by artificial intelligence is not something I thought would be in her wheelhouse. But Joe Biden did, so the 80-year-old gave her the gig.
We only wish we were joking about this. The Vice President, not known for deep thinking, leadership qualities, or vision, is now overseeing a budget of $140 million and has a new title of “AI Czar.”
If she handles this job as well as her previous responsibility of overseeing the border crises in her old title of “Border Czar,” we are in deep trouble as humans.
Here is part of a statement from the Biden administration released about this serious topic. “AI is one of the most powerful technologies of our time, but in order to seize the opportunities it presents, we must first mitigate its risks.” And leading that risk mitigation is Kamala Harris.
Harris immediately got to work and met with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google representatives to brainstorm ideas on what AI risks might be mitigated.
Afterward, the AI Czar herself said this in a statement. “Throughout my career I have focused on protecting consumers from the risks associated with technology. As Attorney General for the State of California, I worked to protect seniors from online scammers, women and girls from online harassment, and consumers from privacy breaches, including by establishing a Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit within the California Department of Justice.
“Through this work, it was evident that advances in technology, including the challenges posed by AI are complex. Government, private companies, and others in society must tackle these challenges together. President Biden and I are committed to doing our part – including by advancing potential new regulations and supporting new legislation – so that everyone can safely benefit from technological innovations.”
Am I the only person that believes the first thing Harris did when she learned the Big Guy gave her this role was sit in front of her computer and ask ChatGPT, “Explain how someone who is the least popular vice president ever and completely in over her head would perform a role of AI czar and what are the first five things you would recommend they do?”
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