Congressional leaders within the Home and Senate are privately negotiating a deal to deal with growing considerations about synthetic intelligence, and so they’re hoping to maneuver a invoice within the lame-duck interval, two folks near the negotiations inform POLITICO.
The specifics of the bundle are in flux as Democratic and Republican management haggle over widespread floor. A number of payments have handed by way of committees on a bipartisan foundation associated to AI analysis and workforce coaching payments, which may very well be prime areas for settlement. However different topics like AI’s function in misinformation, elections and nationwide safety are areas rife with potential partisan roadblocks and would doubtless be harder to incorporate in a deal.
Lawmakers this time period have been eyeing methods to deal with AI because the expertise more and more creeps into on a regular basis life, together with in politics and elections. Synthetic intelligence has particularly been a precedence for Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, who initiated the negotiations, in response to one of many folks acquainted. The New York Democrat helmed an “AI policy roadmap” of strategies that was launched earlier this yr.
Congress returns the week after the November election and could have lower than two months to maneuver laws earlier than the beginning of a brand new time period. Throughout that point, lawmakers should additionally clear authorities funding laws as a way to keep away from a shutdown in mid-December. It’s doubtless the potential AI bundle can be tacked onto different must-pass laws, like authorities funding, or the upcoming Nationwide Protection Authorization Act.
Many lawmakers have expressed considerations over misinformation generated by synthetic intelligence, together with involving elections and nationwide safety. As AI expertise grows extra refined, so has its capacity to provide deep-fake photos, movies and audio that may mimic political officers and candidates, leading to reported makes an attempt to focus on lawmakers in addition to aiding in on a regular basis crimes like id theft.
However lame-duck durations — the weeks after a November election however earlier than new members are sworn-in — are tough. The outcomes of the presidential and congressional elections may have a big affect on what coverage will get by way of. Some members may very well be inclined to carry off on passage in the event that they consider any upcoming switches in occasion management would heighten their leverage over a deal.
Then there’s the presidential candidates themselves. Former President Donald Trump has expressed reservations about laws, saying he needs AI improvement to be rooted in “free speech and human flourishing.” Vice President Kamala Harris, who served as lawyer basic within the tech-heavy state of California, has been extra vocal about addressing AI’s potential dangers whereas balancing alternatives for innovation.
The Biden administration has repeatedly stated it’s open to further regulation on AI. The president signed a broad govt order heightening AI security requirements final yr that Trump has since vowed to repeal.
The Home GOP may additionally face an intra-party battle over its management shortly after Congress returns, relying on the leads to November. That would affect current Home Republican leaders’ willingness to maneuver on main laws, notably given Trump’s place on AI regulation.
Implementing complete AI reforms would doubtless include a price ticket. And extra authorities funding — notably as Congress continues to haggle over primary spending ranges, and conservatives push for extra cuts — may come as a tough promote over the subsequent few months.
Congress, and notably Schumer, has been engaged on options as AI has quickly developed. Schumer’s AI roadmap was developed with Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and GOP Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). The group additionally hosted a collection of “AI Perception Boards” for the chamber to coach members on the rising expertise and its potential threats. And Schumer has publicly urged his committee chairs to advance laws that addresses AI.
It’s not the Senate’s first swing at regulating tech on this Congress. The chamber handed a sweeping package geared toward defending youngsters on-line earlier this yr by a 91-3 vote. That deal has since stalled within the Home.
