The House of Representatives has established a Task Force on Artificial Intelligence This will “ensure that America continues to lead in this strategic area,” as Speaker Mike Johnson put it. But the announcement feels more like a pun after years of indecision that show no sign of ending.
In some ways, this task force — chaired by California Reps. Ted Lieu and Jay Obernolte — is a welcome sign that Congress is doing something, anything, on an important issue that has become a darling of tech investment. But in another, more important way, it comes as talk at a time when many believe AI and technology are running circles around regulators and lawmakers.
In addition, the heartbreaking partisanship and obstruction on display in Congress every day makes strange any idea that this task force would produce anything useful at any time, let alone during a historically divisive election year.
“As new innovations in artificial intelligence continue to emerge, Congress and our partners in the federal government must keep pace. House Republicans and Democrats will work together to create a comprehensive report detailing the regulatory standards and congressional actions needed to both protect consumers and promote continued investment and innovation in artificial intelligence,” he said. Rep. Obernolte in the release.
And the Rep: “Artificial intelligence has the ability to change our lives as we know them. The question is how to ensure that AI benefits society instead of harming us. As a recovering Computer Science major, I know this will not be an easy, quick, or one-time task, but I believe Congress has an essential role to play in the future of artificial intelligence. I was thrilled to see so many members of Congress of all political persuasions agree.”
Of course, the White House, numerous agenciesthe EU and countless other authorities and organizations already issue ‘comprehensive reports’ and recommend legislative action, but what is one more?
It seems that Congress realized that it was the last meaningful entity acting on this industry-reshaping force, and so representatives reached across the aisle to pat each other on the back for taking the smallest possible step toward the future. legislation.
But at the same time, with Congress dysfunctional (having passed a historically low number of bills) and all eyes on the 2024 presidential election, this task force is just a way to kick the can down the road until they figure out what they can get away with. under the incoming administration.
Certainly studying AI and its risks and benefits isn’t a bad thing — but it’s a little late to announce it. This task force is long overdue, and as such we may welcome it but also treat it with the same skepticism it deserves from suffering legislators.
All those involved will point this out when asked why they haven’t acted on artificial intelligence, which many voters fear is coming for their jobs or automating processes that once had purposeful human contact. “But we started this task force!” Yes, the EU had too theirs task force that has been working on this issue since the days of the pandemic.
The task force’s announcement kept expectations low, with no timeline or deliverables that voters or watchdogs can hold on to. Even exposure is something they will ‘seek’ to produce!
In addition, considering the special agencies are are at risk of being decrypted through a Supreme Court ruling, it is hard to even imagine what a regulatory structure would look like a year from now. Do you want the FTC, FCC, SEC, EPA, or anyone else to help? They may be court-barred from doing so in 2025.
Perhaps this task force is an admission by Congress that in such tumultuous times, and without real insight into an issue, all they can do is say “we’ll look into it.”
