© Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
U.S. President Biden, Governor of California Gavin Newsom and other officials attend a panel on Artificial Intelligence, in San Francisco.

President Biden on Tuesday met with a group of civil society leaders who have been critical of Big Tech companies in the past to discuss the boom in artificial intelligence, part of a broader push by the U.S. government to get involved in conversations around AI tech and its potential risks.

Biden, in brief remarks to reporters before the closed-door meeting in San Francisco, said that he was there to learn about the potential controls that could be put in place to protect people from the harms of the new tech.

“Social media has already shown us the harm that powerful technology can do without the right safeguards in place,” Biden said. “I’d like to hear more from this group because I have a lot to learn. And we also have a lot to discuss.”

The meeting included Tristan Harris, the executive director of the Center for Humane Technology who became well-known for his criticism of social media companies over the past few years, Algorithmic Justice League founder Joy Buolamwini, who has highlighted how AI and algorithms can propagate racist and sexist biases, and Jim Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media, a longtime children’s advocate.

After the meeting, Steyer said in an interview that Biden was “really engaged” while leading the session, which ran for over an hour. The president stressed the importance of ensuring AI does not undermine U.S. democracy as the group discussed how such tools could amplify misinformation and widen political polarization, Steyer said.

“It was really encouraging to me that he cares this much about it and sees how impactful [it is] and how it simply can’t just be left to a handful of really large companies,” he said.

Microsoft, Google, OpenAI and other major tech companies are rushing to develop AI tools and push them out to millions of people. The companies have been lobbying in Washington and to other governments around the world, suggesting potential regulation while stressing the importance of allowing them to continue to develop the tech. Critics have warned that the companies are focused on profit and are trying to head-off strict government controls, or have a hand in shaping them to their own benefit.

The meeting touched on both the “extraordinary opportunity” and “downsides” of AI tools, including their potential to transform industries such as health care and education, Steyer said.

The White House is keen to indicate that it is taking the boom in AI and its risks seriously. In May, the president hosted the chief executives of OpenAI, Microsoft and Google for a “frank and constructive discussion” about the tech. The government also put out an “AI bill of rights,” laying out guidelines for how federal agencies should use AI. And the National Science Foundation has allocated new funding for AI research.

Before the meeting, Biden announced that Vice President Harris will be holding a follow-up session on AI next month with civil rights leaders and consumer advocates.

The focus on AI is mirrored in Congress, where both the House and the Senate have had hearings on the tech. Still, it’s unclear whether the attention devoted to AI in Washington will lead to legislation.