Senator Chuck Schumer and a group of bipartisan lawmakers present a plan to regulate artificial intelligence; at the same time, they propose investing billions of dollars into the technology.
A 31-page plan out this week urges billions of dollars in government investment for speeding up AI research and development. The proposal is in line with previous announcements from Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and the so-called "AI gang," aiming to advance US innovation in a highly competitive domain.
The document requests Senate committees to establish safety precautions for AI to tackle risks such as AI-related discrimination, job losses, and election interference. Schumer, speaking on Wednesday, emphasized the collaborative approach, stating, "Harnessing AI demands an all-hands-on-deck approach, and that’s exactly what our bipartisan AI working group has been doing."
Certain elements in the plan resemble traditional congressional aspirations, like creating a national data privacy law, granting people more control over their personal information, and potentially regulating AI companies' usage of the same.
The EU is they case in point for some of the document's suggestions, such as the ban on AI for social scoring systems similar to China's. Additionally, the plan encourages committee-run policies on imposing export restrictions on "powerful AI systems" or for labeling certain AI models as classified for national security purposes.
At its core, the plan recommends $32 billion yearly or around 1% of US GDP invested in AI R&D, a figure proposed in a 2021 report by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. The draft was gathered over several months, involving top technology companies, civil rights advocates, trade unions, and intellectual property holders.
The filing intends to speed up an initiative initiated last year, where Schumer joined forces with New Mexico's Sen. Martin Heinrich, and Republicans Sens. Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Todd Young of Indiana.
Young also praised the setup, calling the latest blueprint "the most comprehensive and impactful bipartisan recommendations on artificial intelligence ever issued by the legislative branch" on Wednesday.
The plan sets the stage for a shift from studying to action, with assignments to various Senate committees for crafting AI-related legislation, potentially to be legislated piecewise. Schumer has been aggressive about passing AI-protecting legislation prior to the 2024 elections, aiming to safeguard elections against potential AI-induced interference.
Although Schumer has expressed high expectations for AI regulation, policy experts and some congressional aides believe that passing significant AI legislation within the election year may be challenging.
As the European Union advances with AI regulation, offering final approval to the trading bloc's pioneering EU AI Act, it bans specific AI applications and imposes stringent restrictions on others deemed risky.
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In a continuation of the initiative, the plan proposes partnering with tech companies to utilize their expertise in AI development, ensuring a collaborative approach in the business sector. Furthermore, the legislation aims to foster a responsible and ethical use of AI in multiple industries, promoting its potential for growth and innovation.
Source: edition.cnn.com
