Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with a bipartisan group of senators, is set to unveil a comprehensive “road map” for regulating artificial intelligence (AI) this week. This initiative, aimed at guiding the Senate committees currently crafting legislation on AI, is a response to the rapidly advancing technology and its potential impacts across various sectors.
The plan, which is the culmination of months of work and discussions with key stakeholders, including tech executives, civil rights and labor leaders, consumer protection advocates, and researchers, is expected to call for significant funding for AI research and development, with a suggested figure of about $32 billion. This funding is in line with recommendations from a 2021 National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence report, which advocated for 1 percent of U.S. gross domestic product to be directed to research and development at various agencies.
The road map will also address specific issues related to AI’s impact on sectors such as healthcare, military, and labor. It emphasizes the development of sector-specific rules for AI, as well as measures to ensure transparency and explainability of the technology. Additionally, it includes provisions to ensure the U.S. military’s competitiveness in AI, tracking the progress of potential adversaries in this field.
The plan is expected to call for the passage of existing bipartisan bills, including the CREATE AI Act, which would establish federal infrastructure for AI research. It also includes provisions to promote training and development of workers for other skills, addressing concerns about the potential effects of AI on jobs.
Schumer emphasized the collaborative nature of the roadmap’s development, stating, “Our committees will go to work. Some committees are a little further along than others. We’re not going to wait to have one huge comprehensive plan that touches on everything.” This approach reflects the complexity and urgency of regulating AI, with Schumer acknowledging the need for a multifaceted and timely response.
Schumer organized “insight forums” with a diverse array of stakeholders, including lawmakers, tech executives, civil rights and labor leaders, consumer protection advocates, and researchers. The most notable of these meetings was a six-hour session with top Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Despite the bipartisan backing and the comprehensive nature of the proposed AI regulation roadmap, there is skepticism among some about Chuck Schumer’s leadership in this effort. Critics argue that Schumer may not be the ideal figure to spearhead such a complex and critical initiative.