U.S. Congress to consider two new bills on artificial intelligence
One AmericaJun 03, 2023
House Leaders Announce Bipartisan AI Task Force
Image copyright: Win McNamee/Getty Images News via Getty Images (Oct. 25, 2023)
The Facts
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced on Tuesday that they are forming a bipartisan task force to explore how Congress should deal with artificial intelligence (AI) as lawmakers grapple with regulating the emerging technology.
The new group will have 24 members, with 12 from each party, and will be led by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). The task force will focus on how the US can continue leading the world in AI innovation while also exploring safety mechanisms.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
As lawmakers in the US, as well as the rest of the world, grapple with the mind-boggling potential of AI, it's fair to question how regulation could be enacted and if it's even possible. From executive orders to Congressional bills and bureaucratic rulings, every power center has tried to get a grip on AI for nearly a year. The complex world of AI is still evolving, and there are many factors that make it difficult for Congress, or any other group, to enact meaningful safeguards.
Pro-establishment narrative
The House’s newly created AI task force is a bipartisan coalition that is comprised of the body’s most experienced representatives who have backgrounds in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Dealing with rapidly evolving technology such as AI is no easy task, but Congress is deeply committed to understanding AI and promoting policies that will promote the technology’s benefits while mitigating its threats. This is a moment of both political parties rising to the occasion together.