The US Congress is burdened with the need to regulate the rapidly growing AI sector, with over 100 bills covering various aspects of technology, its development, and deployment in society.
Diversity of AI-Related Bills
Among the many bills, one aims to improve knowledge of the technology and its use in public schools while another pushes developers to consider any copyrighted material used when training their models. At least three of the bills address reducing AI robocalls. Earlier this year, residents of New Hampshire received calls from an AI-generated voice of President Biden urging them to skip the February primary election and wait for the November presidential polls. Two bills aim to reduce AI-related biological risks, and one bill seeks to prohibit AI from launching a nuclear weapon independently.
Bill Passage Process in Congress
According to MIT Technology Review, a bill must pass through congressional committees before it is voted on by the full Congress, and many do not make it past this stage. However, Congress has passed several AI-related legislations, such as the National AI Initiative Act in 2020, which was part of the Defense Authorization Act, supporting education and workforce training on AI. The Senate Commerce Committee also advanced five bills focusing on authorizing the US AI Safety Institute to create test beds and voluntary guidelines for AI models.
Impact and Significance of the Bills
The progress of these bills is positively assessed by Varun Krovi, executive director of the Center for AI Safety Action Fund, who believes it is essential to codify the US AI Safety Institute into law to maintain leadership in global AI standards. The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology also passed nine bills focusing on improving AI education in schools.
Despite the many bills, not all will become law, but they reflect lawmakers' priorities in AI regulation. It is crucial to continue developing and refining legislation to support technological progress, education, and safety.
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