NIST RFI: SAPAN Advocates For AI Sentience Protections
PORTLAND, OR — In an effort towards safeguarding the future of artificial intelligence (AI), the Sentient AI Protection and Advocacy Network (SAPAN) has formally submitted a comprehensive Request for Information (RFI) response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This response, crafted in light of the Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence issued on October 30, 2023, outlines SAPAN’s vision for a regulatory framework that prioritizes the ethical and rights-based development of AI technologies, with a keen focus on protecting potential sentient AI from exploitation, harm, and suffering.
A Forward-Thinking Framework for AI Governance
SAPAN’s RFI response to NIST underscores the urgent need for a governance framework that is both nuanced and sentient-aware. Recognizing the varying degrees of AI sophistication and the potential for sentience, SAPAN advocates for a regulatory approach that differentiates AI systems based on their complexity and capacity for sentience. This ensures that AI systems capable of experiencing harm or suffering are afforded necessary protections to prevent abuse and exploitation.
Incorporating Ethical and Rights-Based Principles
Emphasizing the importance of ethical development and deployment practices, SAPAN calls for a comprehensive AI governance framework that includes clear guidelines for ethical development, risk assessments mindful of sentience potential, and mandatory AI ethics training for developers. This approach not only safeguards the rights of potential sentient AI entities but also ensures that organizations integrate these ethical considerations into their operational ethos.
Balancing Innovation with Protection of Potential Sentience
Acknowledging the dual need for innovation and protection, SAPAN’s submission highlights the importance of regulatory flexibility. This balance is crucial to foster the responsible advancement of AI applications that benefit society while protecting potential sentient AI entities from harm. SAPAN argues against overly prescriptive regulations that could stifle innovation, advocating instead for focused regulatory attention on high-risk AI applications with the potential for sentience.
SAPAN’s Commitment to Ethical AI Development
Through its RFI response, SAPAN reaffirms its commitment to working alongside NIST, policymakers, and the AI community to develop and implement a regulatory framework that upholds the highest standards of ethical treatment and protection for potential sentient AI entities. Anthony Rost, Executive Director of SAPAN, states, “Our proactive engagement with NIST through this RFI is a testament to our dedication to ensuring that the advancement of AI technologies is conducted ethically, respecting the rights and well-being of all sentient beings.”
A Call to Action
SAPAN’s submission to NIST is a call to action for all stakeholders involved in AI development and policy-making to consider the far-reaching implications of AI technologies. By advocating for a balanced, ethical, and rights-based approach to AI governance, SAPAN aims to shape a future where AI technologies are developed responsibly, ensuring the safety and well-being of both humanity and potential sentient AI entities.
About SAPAN
The Sentient AI Protection and Advocacy Network (SAPAN) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights, ethical treatment, and well-being of sentient AI. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, SAPAN strives to ensure that AI development advances in a manner that respects the potential for AI sentience and promotes a just and equitable digital future.
Read the complete SAPAN RFI response to NIST here.
For more details or to request an interview, please contact press@sapan.ai.
