WASHINGTON (AP) – Don Beyer’s car dealership was one of the first in the United States to launch a website. As a representative, the Virginia Democratic Party leads a bipartisan group focused on promoting fusion energy. He reads books about geometry as a hobby.
So when questions arose about the regulation of artificial intelligence, Beyer, 73, took what seemed like an obvious step to him: enrolling at George Mason University to earn a master’s degree in machine learning.Diet members and Supreme Court justices sometimes admit they don’t understand Bayer’s progress is an outlier in the field of emerging technology, but it highlights the extensive efforts by lawmakers to learn about artificial intelligence as they consider legislation that will shape its development.
Horrifying to some, thrilling to others, and baffling to many. Artificial intelligence has been called a transformative technology, a threat to democracy, or even a menace. Humanity’s existential crisis.It will be up to the parliamentarians to decide how to resolve the issue. regulate the industry in a way that encourages it potential benefits While mitigating the worst risks.
But first they need to understand what AI is and is not.
“I tend to be optimistic about AI.” bayer He spoke to The Associated Press after a recent afternoon class at George Mason’s campus in suburban Virginia. “I can’t even imagine how different our lives will be in 5, 10, 20 years because of AI. …I don’t think so. red eyed robot They will soon come after us. But there are other deeper existential risks that we need to pay attention to. ”
Risks such as mass job losses in industries rendered obsolete by AI and data recovery programs biased or inaccurate resultsor Deepfake images, videos, and audio You can take advantage of it political disinformation, scam or sexual exploitation.On the other side of the equation, it’s messy rules Could hinder innovation and put the U.S. at a disadvantage Other countries are trying to harness that power. A.I.
Striking the right balance will require input not only from technology companies but also from industry critics and industries that AI could transform. Although many Americans may have formed their ideas about AI by: sci-fi movie like terminator “It’s important that members of Congress have a clear understanding of the technology,” said Rep. Jay Obanorte (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Select Committee on AI.
When lawmakers ask questions about AI, Obernolte is one of the people they look for. He studied engineering and applied science at Caltech and earned a master’s degree in artificial intelligence from UCLA. The California Republican also founded his own video game company. Obernolte said he is “very impressed” with how seriously his colleagues on both sides of the aisle are taking his responsibility to understand AI.
That’s not surprising, Obernolte says. After all, lawmakers regularly vote on bills that touch on complex legal, financial, health, and scientific subjects. If you think computers are complicated, check the regulations governing Medicaid and Medicare.
Keeping up with technological advances has been a challenge for Congress. steam engine And that cotton gin It transformed the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors. Nuclear power and weapons have been a major issue that lawmakers have had to grapple with in recent decades, said Kenneth Rowande, a political scientist at the University of Michigan who has studied expertise and how it relates to policymaking in Congress. This is another example of a specialized topic.
Members of Congress established several offices. library of congress, Congressional Budget Officeand more — providing resources and expert opinion as needed. We also rely on staff with specific expertise in subjects such as technology.
Additionally, there are more informal forms of education that many members of Congress receive.
“Interest groups and lobbyists are banging on doors and giving explanations,” Rowande said.
Beyer said he has been interested in computers all his life and when AI emerged as a topic of public interest, he wanted to know more. A lot more. Almost all of his classmates are several decades younger. Bayer said most people don’t seem too upset to learn that his classmates are members of Congress.
He said the classes, which he takes in between his busy schedule in Congress, are already paying off. He learned about his developments in AI and the challenges facing the field. He said it helped him understand the challenges. prejudice, unreliable data — and possibilities like improved cancer diagnosis and more efficient supply chains.
Beyer is also learning how to write computer code.
“Learning to code helps me think about these kinds of mathematical algorithms step-by-step, which helps me think differently about many other things, like how I put together an office or how I treat my work.” I realized that it was helpful: creating legislation,” Beyer said.
Although a degree in computer science is not required, it is essential for legislators to understand the impact of AI on the economy. national defense, health careEducation, personal privacy and intellectual property rights, said Chris Pearson, CEO of cybersecurity firm Blackcloak.
“AI is neither good nor bad,” said Pearson, who previously worked in Washington for the Department of Homeland Security. “That’s how you use it.”
Efforts to protect AI have already begun, but so far they have been led by the executive branch.Last month, the White House announced new rules It would require federal agencies to demonstrate that their use of AI will not harm the public.under presidential order The law, issued last year, requires AI developers to provide information about the safety of their products.
In terms of more substantive action, the United States is trying to catch up on this issue. european union,recently established the world’s first important regulations Manage the development and use of AI. The rules prohibit some uses, such as routine AI-enabled facial recognition by law enforcement, while requiring other programs to submit information about safety and public risk. It is hoped that this landmark legislation will serve as a blueprint for other countries as they consider their own AI laws.
As Congress begins the process, Obernolte said the focus should be on “mitigating potential harm,” and hopes lawmakers from both parties can find common ground on how to prevent the worst AI risks. He said he was optimistic.
“Nothing of substance will be accomplished without bipartisanship,” he said.
To guide the discussion, lawmakers created a new AI Task Force (co-chaired by Obernolte) and an AI Caucus made up of lawmakers with specific expertise or interest in the topic. They invited experts to explain the technology and its impact to lawmakers. We invited not only computer scientists and technology experts, but also representatives from various sectors who think for themselves about the risks and benefits of AI.
Rep. Anna Eshoo He is the chairman of the Democratic caucus.She represents parts of California’s Silicon Valley and recently Law introduced This will require tech companies and social media platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to identify and label what is generated by AI. deep fake So that the people are not misunderstood. He said the caucus has already proven its value as a “safe space” where members can ask questions, share resources and begin building consensus.
“There are no bad questions or stupid questions,” she said. “You have to understand something before you accept or reject it.”