A new bipartisan task force in the House of Representatives could be a sign of progress in developing legislation related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently announced the establishment of this task force with the aim of creating principles and policies that will enhance U.S. leadership and security in the field of AI. The task force will be led by Rep. Jay Olbernolte and Rep. Ted Lieu as co-chair, with the involvement of other senior members from California, such as Rep. Darrell Issa and retiring Rep. Anna Eshoo.
While most of the AI-related legislative activity has been concentrated in the Senate, this new initiative in the House highlights a growing interest in AI regulation at the federal level. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has already spearheaded a bipartisan working group in the Senate, leading to the development and consideration of various AI-related bills. Although no comprehensive AI legislation has been enacted this Congress, there have been promising developments, including the introduction of bills like the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act and the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act.
Rep. Don Beyer, a member of the House Task Force, has set ambitious goals for the group, aiming to draft multiple major AI bills by 2024. One of the key priorities for the task force is the bipartisan Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence (CREATE AI) Act, which aims to promote safe and innovative AI research in the U.S. Additionally, several other AI bills have been proposed to address transparency, national security, and regulatory aspects of AI technology.
The bipartisan nature of the House Task Force underscores a potential shift towards increased regulation and oversight of AI technologies in the United States. However, the likelihood of comprehensive AI legislation passing in an election year remains uncertain, despite the continued importance of AI on the policy agenda. As executive agencies implement initiatives to promote responsible AI development and states adopt their own AI legislation, the landscape of AI regulation is expected to evolve further in the coming months.
