The United States majority Senate leader Chuck Schumer plans to call for “comprehensive legislation” regarding safety measures for artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the urgency for bipartisan action from Congress on the subject. Schumer’s remarks are planned for a meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. on June 21.
According to excerpts of his speech released by his office, Schumer will stress that there is “no choice but to acknowledge that AI’s changes are coming,” and that a strategy encouraging innovation is necessary. He will add, “We are going to work very hard to come up with comprehensive legislation. Because this is so important, we are going to do everything we can to succeed.”
Schumer will acknowledge the difficulties in creating legislation for “every single issue” that may arise with the emergence of AI, stating it is “unlike anything we’ve dealt with before.” Questions to be posed include the extent of federal intervention in tax and spending matters, as well as whether such intervention is necessary at all.
The senator will also argue for safe innovation that makes the public feel comfortable, explaining that without this assurance, AI’s development may be stifled and even prevented from moving forward. This comes one day after U.S. President Joe Biden met with experts from Silicon Valley on June 20, expressing the White House’s commitment to “seizing the opportunities and managing the risks” of AI.
During the meeting, Biden stressed the importance of citizens’ rights and privacy, in addition to addressing biases and misinformation prior to the release of AI systems. Previously, in April, Biden met with executives from OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google’s Alphabet to discuss AI.
Lawmakers across the U.S. are actively considering regulations for AI. On the same day Biden met with Silicon Valley experts, a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed a new bill for the creation of a commission to study the country’s approach to the technology. As the field of AI continues to advance, calls for comprehensive legislation are growing to ensure its responsible and secure development, with an emphasis on maintaining the public’s trust in the technology.
Source: Cointelegraph
