The empty national AI policy framework: Who is in charge of those in charge?

On March 20, the Trump White House released its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence. It is filled with worthy aspirations such as protecting children, promoting innovation, and ensuring American leadership. But it sidesteps the most important question in AI governance: Who is in charge of those in charge? Having sidelined Congress in seemingly everything else, the administration now delegates AI policy to the legislative branch, offering a series of “Congress should” bromides. At the same time, the policy is devoid of any meaningful discussion of the responsibility and accountability of those whose decisions created the very issues it seeks to address.