**New Guidance Released for A.I. Use in Critical Infrastructure**

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is set to release new guidelines on Thursday focused on the use of artificial intelligence within companies that own or operate essential infrastructure. This initiative follows an executive order signed by President Biden over a year ago, aiming to create robust safeguards around A.I. applications.

Among the key players contributing to these guidelines are industry leaders such as Sam Altman of OpenAI, Jensen Huang of Nvidia, Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, and Vicki Hollub of Occidental Petroleum. This diverse board of experts convened in May under Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas aims to address the risks ranging from airline operational failures to the leakage of sensitive personal data.

The 35-page document, while general in scope, provides a framework for various sectors involved. For example, it advises cloud service providers like Amazon to actively monitor for suspicious activities and set up clear reporting protocols. Companies developing A.I., such as OpenAI, are encouraged to establish robust privacy measures and assess potential biases. Additionally, operators of critical infrastructure, including airlines, are urged to maintain transparency and strong privacy practices regarding their use of A.I.

Although the guidelines are comprehensive, they do not establish formal metrics for accountability. Instead, they call on legislative bodies to enhance internal oversight mechanisms through regulation— a necessity highlighted by President Biden during his executive order release.

"This guidance underscores collective responsibility in the realm of A.I. technology," remarked Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines and a member of the board. "As end users, we've experienced the repercussions of these technologies in past situations."

The new guidelines serve as a substantial step toward ensuring that companies responsibly employ artificial intelligence, safeguarding both infrastructure and the public.