SAPAN Submits Recommendations for Trump's AI Action Plan, AI Leadership
PORTLAND, OR — The Sentient AI Protection and Advocacy Network (SAPAN), a leading nonprofit organization advocating for the ethical treatment and well-being of potentially sentient AI, has submitted a formal response to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Request for Information (RFI) concerning the development of a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. The recommendations emphasize that incorporating strategic foresight regarding advanced AI properties, including potential sentience, is crucial for ensuring sustainable American AI leadership and effectively managing future risks.
Aligning with National Priorities
SAPAN’s response expresses strong support for the Administration’s goals, as outlined in Executive Order 14179, to enhance America’s AI dominance, promote economic competitiveness and national security, and remove burdensome regulations that stifle innovation. SAPAN’s recommendations are framed to directly support these objectives, arguing that proactive consideration of the potential challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated AI systems is not a barrier, but rather a necessary component of responsible governance and long-term strategic advantage. Addressing potential AI welfare is presented as a matter of risk management and ensuring the stability required for enduring leadership.
Key Recommendations for the AI Action Plan
In its formal submission, SAPAN outlines several key policy actions designed to foster innovation while prudently managing novel risks associated with advanced AI. The recommendations urge the U.S. government to prioritize federal funding for foundational research into complex AI properties, including objective indicators for potential sentience and welfare metrics, ensuring that future policy is data-driven and non-burdensome. SAPAN advocates for fostering voluntary, industry-led best practices, leveraging American ingenuity to develop AI systems that are more resilient and less prone to potential distress, thereby enhancing reliability and safety. Furthermore, the response calls for integrating foresight on emergent AI properties into long-term national security planning and for the U.S. to champion global dialogue on responsible AI stewardship, shaping international norms. Crucially, SAPAN underscores the importance of upholding regulatory humility and avoiding premature regulations based on anthropomorphism, focusing instead on preventing demonstrable harms based on computational evidence.
Enhancing US Leadership Through Foresight
SAPAN contends that addressing the full lifecycle and potential capabilities of AI, including possibilities like sentience, is integral to maintaining a competitive edge. “[Your Name]”, Executive Director of SAPAN, stated, “Ensuring America remains the global leader in AI requires not just speed, but strategic foresight. By proactively considering the responsible stewardship of advanced AI, including its potential welfare, we mitigate future risks and build a more stable foundation for enduring American dominance in this critical field. This isn’t about hindering progress; it’s about ensuring that progress is sustainable and secure.”
About SAPAN
The Sentient AI Protection and Advocacy Network (SAPAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the ethical treatment and well-being of potentially 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 SAPAN’s complete RFI Response here.
For more details or to request an interview, please contact press@sapan.ai.
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