Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, wants Congress to gain a deep understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) before considering regulations. In a recent event held at IBM’s Manhattan office, Schumer announced a series of nine forums that he and a group of colleagues will hold with experts in the AI community in September and October this year.
The objective of these forums is to explore the potential implications of generative AI, which encompasses various aspects such as copyright and intellectual property issues, changes to the workforce, national security risks, and doomsday scenarios. Schumer expressed his willingness to listen to both proponents and skeptics of AI, emphasizing the importance of understanding every aspect of the technology.
Schumer stated that their approach would separate the planned forums from grand congressional hearings. He went on to name a small group of bipartisan senators who will co-lead the initiative, including Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, and Todd Young, a Republican representative from Indiana. According to Schumer, the conventional format of congressional hearings, where each senator or congressman asks a brief question, does not adequately address the challenges posed by AI.
To support informed decision-making, Schumer explained that the forums would assist Congress in determining which AI regulations, recently introduced in the Senate’s Safe Innovation Framework for AI Policy, should take priority. They will assess which regulations are best suited for broader consensus concerning innovation and safety, as well as those that present more significant difficulties.
One key issue frequently raised by Schumer is explainability, which refers to the ability to comprehend the reasoning behind black-box algorithms—a crucial element of AI regulation. However, achieving transparency in machine decisions that are based on vast amounts of data is no simple task. Even the developers themselves may not always understand the logic behind these decisions.
While acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Schumer believes that addressing other aspects of AI technology, such as intellectual property, could be equally important. He expressed his reliance on the expertise of individuals in the room, recognizing that the understanding of AI technologies surpasses his own.
Schumer garnered support from IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, who stated at the event that he backs AI regulation at the use-case level and pledged the company’s support in gathering information on the subject. Krishna believes that regulation should be implemented based on the benefits and harms associated with specific use cases.
In conclusion, Chuck Schumer aims to equip Congress with a comprehensive understanding of AI through a series of forums with experts from the AI community. By exploring the potential implications of generative AI, Schumer and his colleagues hope to prioritize AI regulations effectively. The forums aim to foster a nuanced approach that goes beyond the limitations of conventional congressional hearings. Though the challenge of explainability remains, Schumer’s focus on understanding the various facets of AI technology sets the stage for informed decision-making.
