‘They Could Get Ahead of Us’: Schumer Plans AI Framework in Race Against China

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced plans to introduce a framework to address the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence in the coming weeks, leading to targeted legislation.

Schumer emphasized that the forthcoming framework would draw from expert opinions and tackle complex issues related to AI, such as intellectual property rights, labor issues, healthcare impacts, and potential catastrophic scenarios. He revealed these details during an interview at an AI summit in Washington, explaining that the framework would guide Congress and be refined into specific legislative actions by various committees.

The urgency of regulating AI is being driven in part by fears of misuse, including biases, election interference through deepfakes, and more severe threats like cyber-attacks and bioweapons development, especially by nations like China. Schumer highlighted concerns over China’s advancements in AI, which could potentially outpace the U.S. if regulatory measures are not enacted.

“If we do nothing, China with a whole different system – their AI is interested in things like facial recognition and surveillance and stuff like that – they could get ahead of us,” Schumer said.

To address these issues, the lawmaker advocates a piecemeal legislative approach, allowing more prepared committees to advance their parts of the regulation without waiting for a comprehensive plan.

“Some committees are a little further along than others,” Schumer said. “We’re not going to wait to have one huge comprehensive plan that touches on everything.”

The initiative comes as part of a broader push by the Biden administration and U.S. lawmakers who are increasingly worried about AI’s potential effects on elections and societal influences. Despite their concerns, efforts to regulate AI have been stymied by a divided Congress, putting the U.S. behind Europe in terms of developing AI regulations.

Source: Reuters

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May 9, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy