Two United States senators, Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley, have unveiled a bipartisan blueprint for artificial intelligence (AI) legislation. This comes as Congress intensifies its efforts to regulate the emerging technology. The framework proposed by the senators advocates for mandatory licensing for AI firms and emphasizes that technology liability protections will not shield these companies from legal actions.
According to Blumenthal, this bipartisan framework represents a significant step forward in providing concrete and enforceable AI safeguards. He believes it will serve as a guide in managing the potential benefits and risks of AI technology. Hawley also emphasized that the principles outlined in the framework should be the foundational basis for Congress to take action regarding AI regulation.
The proposed framework includes the creation of a licensing system overseen by an independent regulatory body. AI model developers would be required to register with this oversight entity, which would have the authority to conduct audits of these licensing applicants. The framework also suggests that Congress should clarify that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides legal protections to tech firms for third-party content, does not extend to AI applications. Other sections of the framework focus on corporate transparency, consumer and child protection, and national security safeguards.
Blumenthal and Hawley, who lead the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and Law, have also announced plans for a hearing. This hearing will include testimony from prominent figures in the AI industry, such as Brad Smith, the vice chairman and president of Microsoft, William Dally, the chief scientist and senior vice president of research at NVIDIA, and Woodrow Hartzog, a professor at Boston University School of Law.
The unveiling of this framework and the announcement of the hearing come ahead of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s AI forum. The forum will feature leaders from major AI firms who will provide lawmakers with insights into the potential advantages and risks associated with AI. Schumer had previously introduced an AI framework in June, which outlined a range of fundamental principles.
Overall, with the introduction of this bipartisan blueprint and the upcoming hearing, there is growing momentum in Congress to develop comprehensive AI regulations. The framework proposed by Senators Blumenthal and Hawley focuses on licensing requirements, liability protections, and other safeguards to ensure responsible development and deployment of AI technology. As the AI industry continues to expand, these legislative efforts aim to address the ethical, legal, and societal implications of this rapidly evolving technology.
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