Cantwell, Young File Future of AI Act Amid Push to Encourage US Government Interest
Lawmakers focused on artificial intelligence technology filed legislation Tuesday, the day a Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing focusing on AI algorithm issues that could require congressional action. Lawmakers and industry witnesses cited the need for the federal government to encourage U.S. AI industry development, given involvement of foreign governments in expanding their countries' sectors.
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The Fundamentally Understanding the Usability and Realistic Evolution of Artificial Intelligence (Future of AI) Act would direct the Department of Commerce to establish the Federal Advisory Committee on the Development and Implementation of Artificial Intelligence. It would “provide advice” on AI-related issues, including U.S. competitiveness in AI development, use of AI “for rapid retraining of workers, due to the possible effect of technological displacement,” use of AI in education and international competitiveness for AI-related industries. The legislation would direct the committee to study the U.S. AI landscape and issues, including ways to identify and eliminate bias in algorithms and possible ethics standards in development.
The bill would define AI in part as “any artificial systems that perform tasks under varying and unpredictable circumstances, without significant human oversight, or that can learn from their experience and improve their performance. Such systems may be developed in computer software, physical hardware, or other contexts not yet contemplated.” AI also can be defined as systems “that act rationally, such as intelligent software agents and embodied robots that achieve goals via perception, planning, reasoning, learning, communicating, decision-making, and acting,” the bill said.
“While [AI] holds the promise of providing goods and services more efficiently and effectively, increased automation has potentially broad negative impacts on our workforce and our privacy,” said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., one of the legislation's co-sponsors. “This bill serves as an important step in bringing together all stakeholders to better understand how this new technology will impact our lives.” Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Todd Young, R-Ind., were lead sponsors. Congressional AI Caucus co-Chairmen John Delaney, D-Md., and Pete Olson, R-Texas, filed a House companion bill.
Senate Communications ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, vowed Tuesday to file his own AI bill. It would somewhat mirror the Future of AI Act's intent but would create an independent commission to advise agencies with a stake in AI development instead of a federal advisory committee.
Senate Communications Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., noted his interest. “As AI systems mature and become more accurate in their descriptive, predictive and prescriptive capabilities, there are issues that should be addressed to ensure the responsible development and use,” he said. Issues include “understanding how data is gathered” and “what data is provided for an intelligent machine to analyze.” Wicker wants to address “how algorithms are programed by humans to make certain predictions.”
Successful integration of AI into U.S. industries “should be the primary goal of policymakers, and given the rapid pace at which other countries are pursuing this goal, the U.S. cannot afford to rest on its laurels,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Vice President Daniel Castro during the hearing. “The U.S. government has not declared its intent to remain globally dominant in this field, nor has it begun the even harder task of developing a strategy to achieve that vision.” Federal funding for AI research and development “has been relatively flat, even as the importance of the field has dramatically increased,” cautioned Princeton University professor Edward Felten.