Congress is set to hold three new hearings on artificial intelligence (AI) next week as it works to craft safeguards for the emerging technology.
The first hearing will be held on Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology, and the law. The hearing will focus on the potential risks of AI, such as bias, discrimination, and privacy violations. Witnesses will include Microsoft President Brad Smith and Nvidia chief scientist William Daly.
The second hearing will be held on Wednesday by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee. The hearing will focus on the federal government’s use of AI, including its potential to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Witnesses will include White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhaker and Pentagon chief digital and artificial intelligence officer Craig Martell.
The third hearing will be held on Thursday by the House Oversight subcommittee on government operations. The hearing will focus on the potential for AI to be used to violate civil rights and liberties. Witnesses will include civil rights activists and experts on AI ethics.
These hearings are part of a broader effort by Congress to grapple with the challenges and opportunities of AI. In recent years, Congress has passed several bills related to AI, including the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020, which established a national AI research and development program.
It is still too early to say what specific safeguards Congress will enact, but these hearings are a sign that the issue is taking on increasing urgency. AI is a powerful technology with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, but it is also important to ensure that it is used safely and responsibly.
Here are some of the potential risks of AI that Congress is likely to consider:
- Bias: AI systems can be biased, either intentionally or unintentionally. This can lead to discrimination against certain groups of people, such as racial minorities or women.
- Discrimination: AI systems can be used to discriminate against certain groups of people, such as by denying them jobs or loans.
- Privacy violations: AI systems can collect and store a lot of personal data, which could be used to violate people’s privacy.
- Safety: AI systems could be used to create autonomous weapons that could kill without human intervention.
- Job displacement: AI systems could automate many jobs, leading to job displacement and economic disruption.
Congress will need to balance these risks against the potential benefits of AI, such as its potential to improve efficiency, productivity, and healthcare. It is a complex issue, but it is one that Congress needs to address in order to ensure that AI is used for good.
Sponsored: AI Safeguards to be Focus of Congressional Hearings
