In the face of the dizzying advance ofartificial intelligence, it is critical that lawmakers develop a solid regulatory foundation to protect consumers and promote innovation. In the United States, the House of Representatives recently established a Task Force on AI in order to “ensure that America continues to lead in this strategic area.”
The announcement of the Task Force
The announcement of the Task Force was greeted with a mixture of hope and skepticism. On the one hand, it is encouraging to see Congress act on such an important issue that is attracting enormous investment in the technology sector. On the other hand, however, the announcement seems to be just a political move to show commitment but without providing clear direction or concrete timelines.
The Task Force will be chaired by California Representatives Ted Lieu and Jay Obernolte, both of whom are committed to technology issues. Lieu emphasized the importance of ensuring thatartificial intelligence has a positive effect on society rather than harming it, while Obernolte stressed the importance of protecting consumers and promoting investment and innovation in AI.
A Reminder of Accountability?
Despite the establishment of the Task Force, many doubts arise about its actual effectiveness. The U.S. Congress is often hostage to baffling partisanship and obstructionism, making it difficult to imagine that a bipartisan working group could produce meaningful results, especially in a historically divisive election year.
Moreover, it is important to note that many government agencies, including the White House and the European Union, have already issued “comprehensive reports” and recommended legislative action on the issue of AI. So why another task force? It would seem that Congress has realized it is the last major player to act on this issue, and has decided to take at least one small step to demonstrate a commitment to future legislation.
The late realization
The Task Force ‘s creation comes at a time when more and more people fear that AI could threaten their jobs or automate processes that once required the human touch. Many constituents worry about how AI could affect their daily lives and the future of the economy. In response to such concerns, lawmakers may now respond, “But we created a Task Force on AI!” However, the European Union established its Task Force already during the pandemic, which suggests that the U.S. Congress is lagging behind other entities.
The limitations of the Task Force
Despite the Task Force‘s announcement, no details were provided on a possible roadmap or specific targets that voters or watchdog groups could use to evaluate the effectiveness of the Task Force. Even the final report that the Task Force will “seek” to produce seems to leave room for doubt as to whether it will actually be implemented.
Moreover, with the possibility of government agencies with expertise in the field being constrained by Supreme Court decisions, it is difficult to imagine what regulatory structure will be in place a year from now. If the FTC, FCC, SEC, EPA, or any other agency were to be judicially prevented from taking action starting in 2025, how will they be able to help protect consumers and promote innovation in the AI sector?