The paper Computing Power and the Governance of Artificial Intelligence investigates how computing power (compute) can influence AI governance. Key insights include:

• Compute is a fundamental resource for AI development, leading to its use as a governance tool by governments and companies.
• Improvement in regulatory visibility, allocation of resources for beneficial AI, and enforcement against harmful AI uses are possible through compute governance.
• Despite its potential, compute governance varies in readiness, with some concepts piloted and others requiring more foundational research.

Key Takeaways:

• Governing compute requires careful consideration of privacy, economic impacts, and power centralization risks.
• It offers a quantifiable and controllable means to facilitate responsible AI development and deployment.

Opinions:

This research underscores the importance of compute in shaping the future of AI. By focusing on the governance of this basic yet powerful resource, policymakers could effectively steer AI towards beneficial outcomes. As AI technologies continue to evolve, compute governance could become an essential lever for ensuring ethical and sustainable advancements in the field.