Republicans and Democrats are teaming up in Congress to pass legislation tackling the future threat of Artificial Intelligence, Fox Business reports. Legislation regulating emerging aspects of society usually take years to make its way through Congress, but most in Congress see AI as threat that needs to be contained and watched.
The bill focuses on two aspects of Artificial Intelligence. The first is focused on domestic issues, meaning that the government needs to be upfront about using the technology when it interacts with the public. The second is oriented towards foreign nations by creating an office to measure how competitive the US is when it comes to AI.
While developers and companies are usually upfront about using technology to conduct customer relations, they could theoretically isolate users who may have complaints about products. Interacting with the Federal Government is on another plane of seriousness, as a poor or broken interaction between citizens and the government could ultimately lead to fines or jail time if improperly conducted.
Congress getting in front of future threats is a welcome sight. Congress is usually a reactive institution, having difficulties dealing with fully emerged threats due to inertia and a deference to the executive branch. AI companies are already reaping the rewards of this new technological race, such as Nvidia’s skyrocketing valuation.
If this bureau to analyze and measure AI technology in the United States is a success, it could be a template for other commissions that could refocus the American government into tackling threats nimbly, rather than doing so through the current bureaucratic patchwork of agency fiefdoms.
