Introduction to AI Assurance for Policy Makers

The deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) applications has accelerated faster than most scientists, policymakers and business leaders could have predicted. AI enabled technologies are facing the public in many ways including infrastructure, consumer products and home applications. Because many of these technologies present risk either in the form of physical injury or unfair outcomes, policy makers must consider the need for oversight. Most policymakers, however, lack the technical knowledge to judge whether an emerging AI technology is safe, effective and requires oversight, therefore depending on experts opinion. But policymakers are better served when, in addition to expert opinion, they have some general understanding of existing guidelines and regulations.While not comprehensive, this work provides an overview of AI legislation and directives at the international, U.S. state and federal levels. It also covers business standards, and technical society initiatives. This work can serve as a resource for policymakers and other key stakeholders and an entry point to their understanding of AI policy.