In response to certain senators’ requests to slow down the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States, Google executive Royal Hansen emphasized the need to develop and apply the technology responsibly rather than lag behind other nations.
He said, “It’s really this idea of being responsible as we invest in and develop AI because there are many benefits to using AI well, whether in energy production, healthcare, or science.”
“But in cybersecurity,” he went on, “we need to keep people safe and help them learn how to use AI effectively at the same time.”
Later, Hansen cited the “Genesis Mission,” an ongoing partnership between tech firms, the Department of Energy, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), as a key area of concentration for AI research.
President Donald Trump signed the proposal last month with the intention of accelerating the use of AI in scientific research.
“I think [it’s] a great example of that intersection between AI and energy,” said Hansen.
They [government agencies] employ some of the world’s top scientists at their national labs. If we can use artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies as they become available to address some of these energy-related issues, it might really create a very positive feedback loop in which science advances, energy is improved, and American ingenuity triumphs.
Another area where AI is already being used defensively, according to Hansen, is cybersecurity. He noted that although attackers are employing the technology more often, businesses are creating AI-powered tools to safeguard systems at scale.
