The Biden administration is delving into the controversial debate surrounding the openness of powerful artificial intelligence systems, with the White House seeking public input on whether key components should be open-source or closed. This inquiry is part of a broader executive order signed by President Joe Biden in October aimed at managing rapidly advancing technology.

Tech companies are split on the issue, with some highlighting the risks of widely accessible AI model components, while others argue that open science is crucial for researchers and startups. Facebook parent Meta Platforms and IBM have been vocal advocates for an open approach.

Biden's executive order specifically mentioned "dual-use foundation models with widely available weights" as needing further examination. Weights are numerical values that impact an AI model's performance, and when made public, they can lead to both innovation and security risks by potentially removing safeguards within the model.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has been tasked with consulting experts and providing recommendations on how to navigate the potential benefits and risks of open AI models by July. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, under the Commerce Department, has also opened a 30-day comment period to gather ideas for a report to the president.

Assistant Commerce Secretary Alan Davidson emphasized that the issue is not black and white, with varying levels of openness possible. He expressed confidence that solutions can be found to promote both innovation and safety in the realm of artificial intelligence.