A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the United States introduced a bill on June 20 that calls for the establishment of a commission to study the country's approach to artificial intelligence (AI). The primary objective of the bill is to create regulations for the AI industry. The bill gained support following appeals from European Union consumer protection groups, urging regulators to investigate the AI models used in popular chatbots.
Reps. Ted Lieu, Ken Buck, and Anna Eshoo sponsored the bipartisan National AI Commission bill. The proposed legislation aims to create a national agency responsible for developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI. Its focus is to address potential risks associated with AI technology, and Rep. Lieu emphasized the importance of preventing harm resulting from unregulated AI. The commission would bring together experts, government officials, industry representatives, and labor stakeholders to advise on effective AI regulation.
Merve Hickok, the chair of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy, expressed support for the National AI Commission. She regarded the proposal as timely and critical, as it would establish necessary regulations for AI and encourage public participation in shaping a national AI strategy The center has previously warned that the United States is unprepared to meet future AI challenges. Hickok praised lawmakers for taking a positive step forward with the commission's proposal.
The development of this bill follows repeated calls from influential figures in the tech industry, including billionaire Elon Musk, who have stressed the importance of taking measures to slow down the pace of AI development. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, Recently expressed concerns about the urgent need for effective regulation in the AI industry.
