The U.S. Senate Majority Chuck Schumer called for “comprehensive legislation” to progress and defend AI and will organize forums later this year.

If the government doesn’t act, who will? Schumer claimed individuals and the private sector cannot safeguard the nation.

In September, he promised to gather “top minds in artificial intelligence” for a “series of AI Insight Forums that will begin laying down a new foundation for AI policy.”

Global governments are examining ways to reduce the risks of developing technology, and U.S. legislators are increasingly advocating swift action. Generative AI, which uses data to create content like ChatGPT’s human-sounding text, could transform civilization.

Schumer released a regulatory framework in April to “prevent potentially catastrophic damage to our country while simultaneously making sure the U.S. advances and leads in this transformative technology.”

“If we don’t set the norms for AI’s proper uses, others will,” Schumer said Wednesday. The Chinese Communist Party, which disregards democratic principles, could define AI regulations ahead of us.”

AI legislation is polarized in Congress. “Even if many developers have good intentions, there will always be rogue actors, unscrupulous companies, and foreign adversaries that seek to harm us,” Schumer stated. “And companies may not be willing to insert guardrails on their own, certainly if their competitors are not required to insert them as well.”
Schumer said AI is already upending tens of millions of jobs.

“Lower-skilled tasks will keep falling victim to automation at a faster and faster rate—displacing millions of low-income workers, many from communities of color,” Schumer added. Manufacturing, energy, and trucking may follow. “College graduates and advanced degree holders are also at risk.”

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that his administration “is committed to safeguarding Americans’ rights and safety while protecting privacy, addressing bias and misinformation, and ensuring AI systems are safe before they are released.”

OpenAI, Microsoft, and Alphabet CEOs met with Biden and other officials in April to discuss AI.

Schumer will argue that Congress should promote innovation: “But if people don’t think innovation can be done safely, that will stifle AI’s development and even prevent us from moving forward.”