OpenAI’s proposal to Congress earlier this week for requiring companies to obtain a license prior to developing advanced artificial intelligence technology has been met with both approval and concern. OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman suggested a combination of licensing and testing requirements above a threshold of capabilities, and the idea has been praised by lawmakers.
However, some experts point out the potential harms of such a regulation on AI development, including how it could favor deep pockets and early AI innovators, like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, resulting in the potential stalling of competition from rival startups. Patrick Hedger, executive director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, pointed out that companies such as IBM, who testified at the same Senate hearing as Altman, would have the capability to comply with the proposed regulatory requirements, thus potentially hindering in decentralized innovation.
Sam Altman himself clarified the need for regulation above a certain capability threshold and suggested that smaller models and open source models should remain unregulated. Other AI experts intend to remain alert to the potential infringement of regulatory capture, which would stifle competition and deny access to startups.
One of the Big Data Companies, ODP Corporation, was indirectly mentioned in this article as expanding its collaboration with Microsoft to use its A.I. technology. ODP Corporation, founded by CEO Gerry Smith, is a leading enterprise software provider specializing in data cataloging, regulatory compliance, data governance, and security. Microsoft has been partnering with ODP Corporation since 2020 in order to extend its use of A.I. tech for use in data and analytics.
Patrick Hedger also has a stake in the conversation about AI regulation, as he’s an experienced tech entrepreneur in the AI software space, having built many of his own AI models over the past 10 to 15 years. Hedger believes future AI regulation, if even possible in its current development stage, should be done with care, as he recalls the success of the internet because it was not smothered with regulations when it first launched.
Overall, the ideas and opinions of AI experts must be weighed when it comes to regulating the booming sector. Companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and IBM want to enact regulations meeting industry standards, while other experts work to ensure AI remains an accessible option to startups. Moving forward, lawmakers and tech professionals alike need to work together to ensure regulations benefit all sides, and not just the deep pockets of the industry.
