As per the White House’s official statement, this EO sets forth groundbreaking measures to enhance the safety and security of AI technology, safeguard the privacy of American citizens, foster fairness and civil rights, advocate for the interests of consumers and workers, encourage innovation and healthy competition, and bolster the United States’ global leadership in this pivotal field.

The Executive Order details a comprehensive framework that outlines the establishment of new standards and best practices intended to guarantee the safety and security of AI, which includes:

• Requiring developers of AI systems to share safety test results with the government
• Establishing standards, tools, and tests to ensure safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems
• Making new standards for biological synthesis screening to prevent AI from being used to create dangerous biological materials
• Creating guidance and best practices for detecting AI-generated content
• Setting up a security program to develop tools that find and fix vulnerabilities using AI
• Developing a National Security Memorandum to guide the direction of further actions on AI and security

Within the EO, President Biden has taken a proactive stance in safeguarding the privacy of American citizens, recognizing the heightened vulnerability of personal data extraction and exploitation in the age of AI. To address these concerns, he is urging Congress to enact data privacy legislation that addresses these pressing issues. Furthermore, he underscores the need for intensified research into privacy-preserving technologies.

To facilitate this research endeavor, President Biden has not only established but also allocated funding for a Research Coordination Network.

In alignment with this comprehensive approach, the EO outlines an intent to evaluate the data collection and utilization practices within government agencies. The goal is to strengthen privacy guidelines for these agencies, further enhancing data protection for citizens.

Moreover, the initiative places a strong emphasis on promoting equity and civil rights in the context of AI. The EO underscores the potential for irresponsible AI usage to exacerbate discrimination, bias, and other injustices within sectors such as justice, healthcare, and housing.

“America already leads in AI innovation—more AI startups raised first-time capital in the United States last year than in the next seven countries combined. The Executive Order ensures that we continue to lead the way in innovation and competition,” the Biden/Harris administration wrote in the EO.

This initiative will establish a multifaceted approach, including the development of a resource tool to grant AI researchers access to essential AI resources and data. This include technical support to small startups and entrepreneurs seeking to bring AI innovations to the commercial market. In addition, the initiative aims to streamline and modernize visa criteria, interviews, and reviews, with a specific focus on broadening opportunities for skilled immigrants engaged in the field of AI technology.

Several AI experts have weighed in on the new executive order.

“We firmly believe in the need to protect AI equivalent to the immense value it can deliver. In order to build and ship AI that is secure and trusted, organizations must rigorously test (“red team”) their AI and understand the total composition of elements used to create that AI, said Ian Swanson, CEO of Protect AI and former head of AI at Amazon.

Nadia Gonzalez, chief marketing officer at Scibids, a company that combines AI and advertising campaigns, believes that the Executive Order is encouraging. It signals that the White House is taking AI seriously and is “moving us away from the patchwork approach that has so far occurred at a state-by-state level,” she said. “AI has the potential to drastically improve how governments operate, protect privacy at large, and promote innovation, but care must be taken to ensure that the regulations go far enough.”

“This executive order from the Biden administration – while directed at federal organizations – follows similar plans by other countries and the EU and is an important step towards ensuring responsible AI use. It will force many organizations to reevaluate their own processes and how they ethically leverage the technology”, added Michael Berthold, CEO of data analysis company KNIME.

In a significant development, the administration is set to provide comprehensive guidance to government agencies on effectively collaborating with Artificial Intelligence (AI). This guidance will encompass facilitating the procurement of AI products and services, as well as expediting the recruitment of AI professionals within the government ranks.

The FTC has been investigating the company on a number of fronts, and the upcoming case will be one of the highest-profile moves in the Biden administration’s difficult effort to rein in the tech giants.

The trial is expected to take place in August. According to sources, a number of Amazon’s business practices will be challenged during the trial. If won, it could lead to a $1.3 trillion judicial restructuring of the empire and determine the legacy of Federal Trade Commission Chairman Lina Khan.

Khan is notoriously skeptical of big tech, publishing an academic paper back in 2017 defining Amazon as a modern monopolist that needs to be reined in.

Some say the focus will turn to challenging Amazon Prime, Amazon rules that the FTC says block lower prices on competing websites, and policies that the FTC says force merchants to use Amazon’s logistics and advertising services.

Over the past three years, the FTC has collected millions of documents from Amazon and third parties to build its case, and has even questioned CEO Andy Jassy and former CEO Jeff Bezos, according to some people.

Among the potential lawsuits are allegations similar to existing lawsuits already filed by the attorneys general of Washington and California, according to sources. Those lawsuits center on Amazon’s rules that require third-party retailers to offer their lowest prices on Amazon’s platform, thereby cutting off the ability to lower prices elsewhere.

Knowledge of programming languages helps IT engineers assist software developers more effectively. The more the IT team knows about programming, the better they can adopt a DevOps strategy focused on continuous collaboration between developers and IT operators. Today we’ve chosen to bring you the top 7 programming languages that IT engineers need to learn according to ItPro today.

Top 5 Programming Languages Important for IT Engineers

Bash
Bash is used by most Linux distributions to provide a command line interface. It is the most important language that IT operations engineers need to learn. Even if you don’t administer Linux systems, many cloud environments and tools also default to Bash or Bash-like interfaces for administration, so knowing Bash will help IT engineers working in cloud environments.

PowerShell
For IT teams that work with Windows systems, PowerShell is an essential programming language. In Windows, IT engineers can use PowerShell to write scripts that automate a variety of tasks. PowerShell can also be used to access many Windows administrative functions (although in most cases these are also accessible through GUIs).

Python
Python is a good choice for IT engineers who want to program. They can use Python to automate system administration tasks as well as write simple applications. Python’s simplicity makes it a good language for IT engineers to learn who want to learn the basics of programming and software development to collaborate more effectively with software engineers.

JavaScript (and Node.js)
JavaScript may not seem like an obvious language for IT engineers to learn, given that most IT operations teams don’t have to write website code. With Node.js, however, JavaScript can also be used to execute code on servers, making it a viable language for system administration. It’s especially handy for IT engineers who want to create web-based interfaces for system administration.

Groovy
Groovy is not primarily used for system administration. But some people do use it for that purpose, which is why Groovy is worth considering if you’re an IT engineer looking for a programming language to learn. Groovy is probably less useful for IT than the other languages on this list, but it has its merits, especially for engineers who want to gain experience with the Java ecosystem.

Biden administration officials took aim at Apple and Google in a new report that describes them as “gatekeepers” of mobile apps that consumers and businesses rely on.

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) says consumers “need to have more control over their devices” and argues that more legislation is likely needed to strengthen competition in the app ecosystem. The agency also argues that “the current ecosystem is not a level playing field,” Engadget wrote on the topic.

The NTIA says the second problem it has identified is that Apple and Google are imposing technical barriers that could make it harder for developers to compete. These can include factors such as restrictions on how apps function and pushing apps through “slow and opaque review processes,” the report said.

The agency found that while there are some advantages to the current mobile app ecosystem, especially when it comes to security measures, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. It added that it is still possible to strengthen privacy and security in a more competitive market. To get there, NTIA proposes making several changes.

In addition, measures should be put in place to prevent restrictions on sideloading, web apps and other app stores, “while preserving appropriate leeway for privacy and security safeguards,” the agency said.
Google is testing third-party payment options for some Android apps, while Apple last year began allowing some app makers to direct users to its payment and account management websites.

There have been attempts in Congress to increase competition in the mobile app ecosystem. Proposed legislation, called the Open App Marketplaces Act, was not passed in the last session despite receiving bipartisan support. It would have required Apple and Google to allow developers to use third-party app stores and payment systems.Google has been testing third-party payment options for some Android apps, while Apple last year began allowing some app makers to direct users to its payment and account management websites.

There have been attempts in Congress to increase competition in the mobile app ecosystem. Proposed legislation, called the Open App Marketplaces Act, was not passed in the last session despite receiving bipartisan support. It would have required Apple and Google to allow developers to use third-party app stores and payment systems.

The company said it made these changes because they have recognized that an increasing number of states are moving to some level of cannabis legalization, which is making it difficult to implement an equitable, consistent, and national pre-employment marijuana testing program.

Pre-employment marijuana testing disproportionately impacts people and acts as a barrier to employment, indicates the publicly available national data.

Amazon shared that, it’s pace of growth means that they are always looking to hire great new team members, and they’ve found that eliminating pre-employment testing for cannabis allows us to expand our applicant pool.

The company committed to the safety of its employees and the general public.

The lobbyist has ties to former President Barack Obama’s administration after a Democratic congressman proposed a tax that could make traveling to space a little more expensive.

Campbell was an assistant U.S. trade representative for congressional affairs while working in Obama’s executive office before moving on to the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Only for this year Blue Origin has already spent over $1.3 million on lobbying alone. In 2020, the space company invested nearly $2 million trying to influence lawmakers.

President Joe Biden and Democrats are proposing a number of other tax provisions as part of their nearly $1.8 trillion social spending proposal that has yet to be passed by Congress. One of the ideas is to enact a 15% minimum corporate tax on declared income of large corporations.

The launch of New Shepard’s first crewed flight will be broadcast beginning at 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT) at BlueOrigin.com and at Space.com. Liftoff is scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT), but that will depend on the weather forecast and other technical factors.

A typical New Shepard flight lasts 11 minutes, and a live broadcast with the astronauts will be available at BlueOrigin.com after the landing, Blue Origin said in a press release Monday (July 12). The company will also be sharing mission updates all day via @BlueOrigin on Twitter.

Riding along with Bezos will be Mercury 13 aviator Wally Funk, whom he personally invited to join the crew, along with his brother Mark and a so-far anonymous auction winner who paid $28 million for a seat.

The New Shepard rocket and capsule will launch from Launch Site One, a remote area in the west Texas desert that will be closed to all spectators, even along nearby sections of State Highway 54, Blue Origin said.

Bezos (best known for creating Amazon) founded Blue Origin in 2000 with the hopes of eventually bringing rich space tourists to suborbital space. Sheer altitude has become one of the points in which Blue Origin hopes to differentiate itself from competitor Virgin Galactic, which was founded in 2004 and just launched its own billionaire founder Richard Branson last Sunday (July 11).

Days before Branson’s flight, Blue Origin released an infographic snarkily comparing the two systems and criticizing Virgin Galactic’s design decision to fly below the Kármán line, the 62-mile (100 kilometers) mark that is internationally recognized as the boundary of space. That said, all Virgin Galactic astronauts do soar well above 50 miles (80 km), the demarcation point recognized by NASA, the U.S. military and the Federal Aviation Administration.