Dear Members of the AI Community and Interested Stakeholders,

As we stand at the crossroads of technological advancement and its impact on society, the need for open, transparent, scalable, and adaptable autonomous intelligence (AI) systems has never been more critical. The rapid evolution of AI technologies has brought immense possibilities alongside significant ethical, societal, operational, and some might claim existential challenges. Open, standard, object-oriented AI models represent a pathway towards more democratic and accessible technology. By embracing openness and standardization, we foster an environment of collaboration and transparency that not only accelerates innovation but also distributes its benefits more evenly across society.

Advantages of Object-Oriented AI Models

Object-oriented programming (OOP) has proven its efficacy in various domains of software engineering by promoting code reusability, scalability, and maintenance. Applying these principles to AI, we can create models that are not only easier to understand and work with but also more adaptable to changes — be they in data, requirements, or regulations. Such models enhance corporate agility and foster a more robust approach to AI development that can quickly adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

Social Benefits

Open, object-oriented AM models will provide several benefits to society:

Democratize AI Access

Standards lower the entry barriers to smaller entities and researchers, allowing a wider range of stakeholders to develop and deploy AI technologies. This helps to democratize access to AI, preventing monopolistic control by a few large corporations. Increased access can lead to more diverse innovation, addressing broader societal issues and needs, thus fostering a more inclusive AI ecosystem.

Ensure Ethical Governance

Open, object-oriented models largely address the ethical considerations of transparency and accountability. Standard models can directly support the integration of privacy and fairness considerations into the core framework of AI systems, making ethics a foundational component rather than an afterthought. Prioritizing ethical AI models and standard standards will help ensure respect for human rights and societal norms, reduce the risks of bias, discrimination, and other harmful outcomes, and foster public trust in AI technologies.

Enhance Societal Well-being

While standards alone cannot enhance societal well-being,  Standard-based systems will exclusively and explicitly be designed to ensure that they positively impact various sectors, such as healthcare, transportation, and public safety. Standardized AI systems are more likely to be reliable and safe, contributing to societal well-being by enhancing services and protections offered to the public.

Mitigate AI Risks

Standards can emphasize robustness and security in AI systems, aiming to reduce vulnerabilities that can lead to unexpected behaviors or misuse. Mitigating risks is crucial for avoiding potential negative consequences of AI. . By addressing these risks, Standards support the responsible deployment of AIS technologies.

Support Sustainable Development

The identification and prioritization of standards-based application development can support sustainable development goals (SDGs) if they encourage or require the development of solutions that address environmental challenges, enhance resource efficiency, and improve economic outcomes. Standards can potentially significantly advance sustainability efforts by facilitating improvements in precision agriculture, optimized energy use, and reduced waste.

Facilitate Global Collaboration

Standards encourage global collaboration in AI development and deployment by providing a common framework that transcends national boundaries. This global approach can help harmonize efforts to tackle universal challenges such as climate change, health crises, and international security, making AI a key player in global governance.

Organization Benefits

Supporting and participating in standard model development provides several benefits to organizations:

Innovation and Market Leadership

Participating in the collaborative standardization effort places organizations at the forefront of setting global standards in AI and technology, which can be a significant market differentiator. Leadership in standards development often translates to leadership in the market, as compliant products can have a faster time to market and broader acceptance.

Ecosystem Influence

By joining collaborations, organizations directly influence the development and direction of standards that will shape the future of AI and technology. Their influence can ensure that the standards align with their long-term strategic interests and technology roadmaps, reducing future compliance costs and aligning global development with their proprietary technologies.

Risk Management

Collaborative development of open standards can mitigate regulatory divergences and market fragmentation risks. Active participation helps steer the regulatory landscape in favorable directions, minimizing the disruption of emerging compliance demands.

Open Innovation and Collaboration

Open standards foster a larger innovation ecosystem, drawing on a broader base of ideas and collaborations that can accelerate innovation cycles. Should they chose to do so, NIST, OpenAI and other NIST AISIC organizations will be the first to benefit from increased interoperability, easier integration of third-party innovations, and enhanced opportunities for co-development.

Corporate Responsibility and Public Image

Supporting open standards will be seen as socially responsible, promoting transparency and trust. It enhances the company’s image as a responsible technology leader committed to ethical standards and supportive of global initiatives.

Long-Term Strategic Benefits

While there will be significant short-term costs and resource allocations, the long-term strategic benefits of shaping and leading in a globally standardized environment can outweigh these initial investments. Supporting and participating in the collaboration will better position the organization for future environments dominated by interoperable and standardized technologies.

NIST and the AISIC

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of technological innovation and standardization across the United States. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC), housed under NIST unites AI creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations in support of the development and deployment of safe and trustworthy autonomous intelligence (AI).
As we venture deeper into the age of AI, NIST and he AISIC is uniquely positioned to spearhead the development of a proposed national AI infrastructure. This infrastructure aims to utilize bases models comprised of standardized classes to ensure interoperability, scalability, and robustness across diverse AI applications. By integrating various sources of data and AI functionalities, such a framework could revolutionize multiple sectors, including healthcare, public safety, and urban planning. For instance, in healthcare, this infrastructure could enhance personalized medicine and predictive healthcare analytics, while in public safety, it could improve emergency response systems and crime prevention strategies. The establishment of this national AI infrastructure promises not only to streamline and enhance existing services but also unlock new potentials for innovation and efficiency in addressing complex societal challenges and reduce government costs.

Call to Action

We invite researchers, developers, policymakers, and industry leaders to join us in this initiative. Your expertise, feedback, and support are essential as we build AI systems that serve and enhance our communities. We can create a future where AI infrastructure supports an equitable, safe, and informed society.

Please add your signature to this letter if you support our mission to explore the feasibility of open, standard, object-oriented models.

Thank you for considering this call to collaborate on shaping the future of our national AI infrastructure.

Warm regards,

Randall Parker
Founder, Open Autonomous Intelligence Initiative LLC