Is there any legislation regarding AI in the US?
Artificial intelligence is evolving at breakneck speed, and lawmakers are still trying get a handle on the technology. Are there US laws regarding AI?
Artificial intelligence has been around for decades, but recent explosive developments in the use of generative AI like ChatGPT have raised major concerns about the potential repercussions of these technologies.
These apprehensions, expressed even by developers OpenAI and Google DeepMind, include the possible extinction of the human race.
Given what’s at stake, there have been calls to regulate the use of AI.
Is there any legislation regarding AI in the US?
The United States has passed significant legislation related to artificial intelligence in recent years.
This includes measures that focus on ensuring the competitiveness of the country in AI (National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020), the use of AI in the federal government (AI in Government Act of 2020), and promoting non-binding principles for government and industry use of AI (Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights 2022).
However, there is still no comprehensive federal legislation on AI in the country that takes into account and would address recent concerns on the dangers the technology poses. In view of this, the Senate is taking steps to formulate a plan to control the use of artificial intelligence.
READ ALSO: Meta looks for new ways to integrate AI into Instagram
Congress to consider new AI bills
Senators have introduced two bipartisan bills that hope to address some unique needs that have come up due to the rise of AI. One is calling for government offices to inform people when they are using artificial intelligence to interact with them.
The other measure still focuses on ensuring that the US stays ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to the development of AI.
READ ALSO: EU to impose sanctions on Meta if the platform does not implement measures to protect minors
Comprehensive AI laws needed
Legislators have yet to introduce a comprehensive proposal that would set guidelines for managing how tech companies develop generative AI products. Even if a bill were already drafted and proposed, it would in all probability take months before the legislation is passed and signed into law.
To protect AI users and the general public, lawmakers must find a way to churn out the bills in a manner that keeps pace with the blistering speed at which generative AI is advancing.