Those close to the growing field of artificial intelligence (AI) say the industry is frustrated with the pace of Congress' response to the issue.
AI experts and industry insiders are especially concerned with less than a month until Election Day. As advanced AI technology becomes more accessible, “deepfakes” and other forms of misinformation are becoming more prevalent on social media, especially as it relates to politics.
“Congress is having a hard time passing national technology legislation,” said Craig Albright, senior vice president of U.S. government relations at Software Alliance.
He noted that there is an appetite among MPs to push for more action, but added: “It is also true that the focus is almost entirely on what Congress actually needs to do, such as opening the doors of government. “Continuing, raising the debt ceiling, and reauthorizing programs that raise the debt ceiling.” It helps protect the country from terrorists, and technology policy falls into the category of “I'm glad we did it”…I think that was one of the major obstacles. ”
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Congressional leaders have yet to find a bicameral way forward on AI. (Reuters)
“If you think about the conversations we're having with companies like the ones we work with, there's certainly some frustration there,” said Tatiana Reiss, deputy director of U.S. law at the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF). he said.
FPF works with stakeholders in big tech, business, academia, and civil service to help these sectors better understand and develop policies around AI.
“With more states enacting their own laws in the absence of federal action, businesses are concerned about a future 'patchwork of regulations' that will make compliance extremely difficult.” Rice explained.
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”I That's especially true in an election year, but the closer you get to an election, the more difficult it is for Congress to push things through, of course.
“Congress has been working to advance data privacy regulation for the past 20 years. … The United States is one of the only G20 countries without a federal privacy law,” she said. “Therefore, there is reason to be pessimistic about how the lack of federal action will actually impact both businesses and consumers.”
Those working in the AI field say the industry is concerned about the impact deepfakes will have on people's perceptions of AI.
House and Senate leaders have emphasized that educating members about AI is a priority for the 118th Congress, but there is some disagreement over what that means.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) supports a more limited and targeted approach focused on educating lawmakers about AI, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.Y. ) has shown little appetite for the kind of large-scale regulatory framework desired.
With less than three months until the end of the current parliamentary term, it is unclear whether the two sides will be able to reach a compromise on any action.
Dakota State University President Jose Marie Griffith, who advises both the White House and the Senate on AI, noted that advances in AI are being made, particularly in the areas of health and national security; He pointed out that there is still a problem with misinformation. It has to do with elections.
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“I think it's probably a little frustrating for the media and the public that we didn't see it sooner,” Griffiths said. “A lot of effort has been made to move things forward.
“In all fairness, I have to say that artificial intelligence is not a single technology; it is actually quite complex, with many different parts of the technology, and even the enabling technologies. It's progressing very, very quickly…in every part of society.”
Microsoft Bing Chat and ChatGPT applications are examples of how AI has become ubiquitous. (Jaap Arrians/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
All three experts interviewed by Fox News Digital brought the fight back to Congress' difficulties with privacy regulation, especially since the rise of the internet.
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“Privacy was ignored for young people at the time, and they were completely unaware of the long-term impact of their interactions on social media. In some ways, we're at that stage to some extent with AI. I think it’s in,” Griffiths said.
Rice specifically addressed the issue of children's online privacy.
“We're seeing some movement,” Rice said. “But even things that have broad consensus have a hard time moving forward. So it's surprising that technologies that are a little more nascent, like AI and generative AI, are moving at a slower pace. Not.”
