In March 2023, Arati Prabhakar brought a laptop into the Oval Office to show Joe Biden the future. Six months later, the president issued a comprehensive executive order regarding the regulation of AI. This significant development was spurred by the groundbreaking capabilities of ChatGPT, which highlighted the urgent need for AI industry regulation and policy implementation to harness its potential benefits while mitigating potential risks such as disinformation and societal impact.
Prabhakar, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and chief science and technology adviser to the president, played a crucial role in educating top officials about AI’s transformative power. With her background in applied physics and experience leading US agencies and companies in Silicon Valley, Prabhakar brought a unique perspective to her role, making her instrumental in shaping Biden’s executive order on AI.
During an interview at her Silicon Valley home, Prabhakar discussed her motivations for taking on the challenging job, emphasizing President Biden’s vision of using science and technology to achieve significant goals. She outlined the priorities of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, including advancing the science and technology ecosystem, addressing health challenges beyond pharmaceuticals, and tackling the climate crisis through innovation and research.
Prabhakar’s leadership and expertise in the field of AI have been pivotal in shaping the US government’s approach to technology policy, highlighting the importance of integrating innovative solutions to address complex societal issues.
