US Congress Members Introduce Three Bipartisan Bills Addressing Artificial Intelligence
This week, US congress members introduced three bipartisan bills addressing artificial intelligence, its risks, and the US’s place in the AI race. One bill introduced in the US House of Representatives would require transparency when people interact with generative AI. A bill introduced in the Senate would ensure the US leads innovation within the AI, semiconductor, and quantum computing industries.
Senator Mike Braun said in a statement that “The federal government needs to be proactive and transparent with AI utilization and ensure that decisions aren’t being made without humans in the driver’s seat.” Another bill introduced in the Senate would require government agencies to disclose to the public when an agency is using AI.
The House bill, The AI Disclosure Act, was introduced by Representative Ritchie Torres and would help the government regulate misinformation from images and text created by generative AI. “Disclosure is by no means a magic bullet, but it’s a common-sense starting point to what will surely be a long road toward federal regulation,” Torres said in a statement.
The Best AI Chatbots
In March, former president Donald Trump was indicted for allegedly paying a porn star hush money. Images of him being arrested by a mob of New York police officers went viral online. The photos were produced by Midjourney, an image generator that uses generative AI to create realistic images. Before the images’ legitimacy could be debunked, millions came across them and believed they were real, sparking tense political discourse.
Torres’s bill would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which would hand out fines for entities that violate the disclosure requirements. The House bill is still in the early stages of development, and there are many questions to be answered before it passes the lower chamber of Congress.
The American Technology Leadership Act
The Senate bill, The American Technology Leadership Act, aims to create a government entity to encourage American innovation and keep the country at the forefront of technological advancements. The Office of Global Competition Analysis would be a committee of government personnel from many government agencies. The committee would utilize federal intelligence, commercial data, and national security policies to decide which technologies are most important to US economic growth, national security, and industry dominance.
For geopolitical reasons, Washington has taken steps to curb China’s access to American-made semiconductor chips and chip-making equipment.
The Risks of Generative AI
Generative AI is a form of AI that can create images, text, and other content that looks like it was created by a human. While generative AI has many positive applications, such as creating art and music, it also has the potential to be used for malicious purposes, such as creating deepfakes.
Deepfakes are videos or images that have been manipulated to make it look like someone said or did something they didn’t. Deepfakes can be used to spread misinformation, damage reputations, and even influence elections.
The AI Disclosure Act
The AI Disclosure Act would require companies that use generative AI to disclose that fact to the public. The bill would also require companies to disclose when an image or text was created using generative AI.
The bill would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which would have the power to fine companies that violate the disclosure requirements. The bill would not ban the use of generative AI, but it would make it more difficult for companies to use the technology to spread misinformation.
The American Technology Leadership Act
The American Technology Leadership Act would create a government entity to encourage American innovation and keep the country at the forefront of technological advancements. The Office of Global Competition Analysis would be a committee of government personnel from many government agencies. The committee would utilize federal intelligence, commercial data, and national security policies to decide which technologies are most important to US economic growth, national security, and industry dominance.
The committee would also be responsible for identifying emerging technologies that could be used for malicious purposes, such as deepfakes. The committee would work with industry leaders to develop strategies to mitigate the risks associated with these technologies.
Conclusion
The introduction of these bills is an important step in regulating the use of AI and ensuring that the US remains a leader in technological innovation. While generative AI has many positive applications, it also has the potential to be used for malicious purposes, such as creating deepfakes.
The AI Disclosure Act and The American Technology Leadership Act would both help to mitigate the risks associated with generative AI and ensure that the US remains at the forefront of technological innovation. It remains to be seen whether these bills will pass, but they represent an important step in regulating the use of AI and ensuring that it is used for the public good.
