House leaders recently announced the launch of an artificial intelligence task force.
Announced by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-L.a., the bipartisan task force will now help Congress figure out ways to advance the usage of AI in the U.S. while also protecting the population from the threats it poses.
Potential threats that have already been identified include the rise of misinformation, deepfakes and issues in job replacements.
Through the task force, a report will be made containing recommendations on which regulations and policies need to be placed on A.I.
Twelve members have been elected to the task force with Chairman Jay Obernolte and Co-Chairman Ted Lieu helming the project. Both leaders have computer science credentials as Obernolte has a master’s degree in AI and Lieu has written legislation against ChatGPT.
“The rise of artificial intelligence also presents a unique set of challenges and certain guardrails must be put in place to protect the American people,” said Jeffries in an official announcement. “Congress needs to work in a bipartisan way to ensure that America continues to lead in this emerging space, while also preventing bad actors from exploiting this evolving technology.”
In a bipartisan move, the House has announced the formation of the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. This task force will pave the way for the U.S. to continue its leadership in AI innovation while addressing the need for ethical and safety standards.
— Science Committee Democrats (@sciencedems) February 24, 2024
As A.I. continues to gain popularity in a variety of fields, there have been numerous instances where it has been found to perpetuate bias.
Specifically, A..I. has been found to discriminate against Black people in sectors ranging from healthcare to housing to job hiring.
A 2019 report by the Harvard Business Review found that when AI was incorporated into the hiring process, Black professionals had a decreased 30% to 50% chance of getting a callback. Overall, they were more likely to get recommendations for positions that were lower than their qualifications.
A.I. can also negatively impact housing applications. Black Americans are at risk of redlining as a result of A.I. automation that lead to less access to housing and credit, per a report by Axios.
Through the task force, political leaders will attempt to address these disparities.
“AI has the capability of changing our lives as we know it. The question is how to ensure AI benefits society instead of harming us,” said Co-Chair Ted Lieu. “As a recovering Computer Science major, I know this will not be an easy or quick or one-time task, but I believe Congress has an essential role to play in the future of AI. I have been heartened to see so many Members of Congress of all political persuasions agree.”
