House creates bipartisan task force to regulate artificial intelligence

Speaker Mike Johnson explained that it will help "understand and plan for both the promises and the complexities of this transformative technology."

El presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Mike Johnson. — Mike Johnson (Cordon Press)

Published by

Alejandro Baños

20 de febrero, 2024

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Congress is moving toward full regulation of artificial intelligence (A.I.) to try to keep up with the advancement of this technology while detecting and managing the dangers it brings. For this reason, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, announced the creation of a bipartisan and specific "working group" to know how to direct it.

"Because advancements in artificial intelligence have the potential to rapidly transform our economy and our society, it is important for Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to understand and plan for both the promises and the complexities of this transformative technology," explained the speaker in a statement published on X.

The goal is for AI to provide solutions and not problems

Johnson confirmed that said working group will be led by two representatives from California: Jay Obernolte (Republican) and Ted Lieu (Democrat).

"It is an honor to be entrusted by Speaker Johnson to serve as Chairman of the House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. As new innovations in AI continue to emerge, Congress and our partners in federal government must keep up. House Republicans and Democrats will work together to create a comprehensive report detailing the regulatory standards and congressional actions needed to both protect consumers and foster continued investment and innovation in AI," Obernolte said.

Lieu added that the goal is to "ensure AI benefits society instead of harming us":

Thank you to Leader Jeffries and Speaker Johnson for establishing this bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial intelligence. AI has the capability of changing our lives as we know it. The question is how to ensure AI benefits society instead of harming us. As a recovering Computer Science major, I know this will not be an easy or quick or one-time task, but I believe Congress has an essential role to play in the future of AI. I have been heartened to see so many Members of Congress of all political persuasions agree.

Biden has already signed a regulatory order

Last year, Joe Biden to legislate the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence. The initiative obliges developers of A.I. systems to share the results of their tests with the administration, while developing tools and tests to guarantee that these programs are safe and reliable. In addition, it will establish standards to facilitate the detection of A.I.-generated content for users, and impose measures to guarantee the privacy of citizens and promote equity and civil rights.