On November 28, Axios gathered industry trailblazers, technology experts, and policymakers at their inaugural AI+ Summit in downtown Washington, D.C. Members from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group team heard from dynamic leaders like U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and key opinion former on AI about the future of artificial intelligence, the role of public policy and the role of innovation across various industries.

The TL;DR (key takeaway)  –  innovation is the lifeblood of our economy, and AI is at the forefront — rapidly reshaping how we work, live, and connect. It has the promise to increase efficiencies and address some of the toughest challenges we’re facing as a society. However, in order to reach its true potential, we need to break down silos and make sure we’re building capacity about the technology, how it works, and where it has the potential to go.  

Here are my thoughts:  

1. California is well positioned to lead the nation when it comes to AI policy. Government leaders called for bipartisanship at the federal level to think through AI technology and to establish the necessary guardrails to mitigate harm and risk. These conversations are already underway in California and happening in a manner that not only brings together people from the public and private sectors, but also includes and considers the perspectives of community and nonprofit organizations. This is the right formula for inclusive public policy and California is leading the way via Executive Orders and bills in the legislature. 

2. New tools and methodologies will be needed to measure AI’s societal impact. The potential of AI lies in its ability to address real-world challenges and be of value to the average person. As with any new technology, our methods of study and research must also evolve, if our goal is to truly understand efficacy and impact. We’re in the early stages, but these conversations are happening and it is heartening to it happening in a multidisciplinary manner and with diverse voices at the table.   

3. Collaboration and capacity building is key. Thinking through the appropriate frameworks, guidelines and best practices for AI will take meaningful collaboration between industry experts and government leaders to advance ideas for safety, transparency, and accountability across the public and private sectors. Where possible, appropriate learnings should be shared and steps should be taken to make sure we’re all building our knowledge and understanding when it comes to AI. This way we can continue to grow and make the necessary tweaks as things progress.   

As the world navigates the landscape of artificial intelligence, these insights remind me why SVLG’s AI principles – human-centered, explainable outcomes, equitable, secure, and risk-mitigation – are so important. SVLG’s Responsible AI Working Group looks forward to continuing to engage with industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders in Sacramento and D.C. on the future of AI innovation.