This week, the Washington Times ran a piece from U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., about regulating artificial intelligence.
Rubio wrote the following:
To prevent next-generation computer programs from wreaking havoc on American society, [some members of Congress want] to enact comprehensive regulation at “lightspeed”….
Let’s be clear: The federal government has a legitimate and necessary role in regulating emerging technologies, and AI is no exception…. Let’s also be clear, however, that Congress…is in no position to comprehensively regulate AI…. Indeed, few lawmakers had given the topic much thought before ChatGPT made headlines. Moreover, the technology is changing so rapidly that computer scientists can barely keep up with it, much less politicians….
If we ignore these factors and attempt comprehensive regulation anyway,…Congress [may] use the pretense of regulation to protect and empower special interests. With this in mind, Silicon Valley’s vocal support for AI regulation is cause for legitimate concern….
[Another] possible outcome…is that Congress will be too heavy-handed, stifle domestic innovation, and transfer the technological edge to our adversaries. This would be the worst outcome of all, because AI has the capacity not just to energize the economy, but to revolutionize national security, and the race is on between the United States, China, Russia, and others to gain the upper hand….
[T]his is not an argument against regulation wholesale…. But at this early stage, we would be foolish to think that we are anywhere close to having the last word on the issue, or that any such word would be to America’s benefit….
The entire piece can be read here.
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