Tech
US Senators Propose $32 Billion Investment Plan to Stimulate Growth of Artificial Intelligence and Technology
Last updated: May 16, 2024 1:29 pm EDT | 2 minute read
On May 15, a bipartisan group of four senators urged Congress to take bold and decisive action to ensure American leadership in artificial intelligence (AI).
The Senators’ AI Investment Plan, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, pushes for $32 billion in funding over the next three years to develop artificial intelligence in the country.
US Senators’ AI Investment Proposal Complements Strategic Roadmap
In a 31-page document titled “Driving US innovation in artificial intelligence,The group of two Democratic and Republican senators outlined a roadmap that would see the US take proactive steps to “exploit the opportunities and address the risks” of rapidly developing technology.
Now, obviously, the Senate can’t make a law on its own, so I plan to meet with President Johnson in the near future to see how we can make this bipartisan effort BICAMERAL with our AI policy roadmap.https://t.co/vbHKER9zNg pic.twitter.com/0H71VaubAz
—Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 15, 2024
The proposed funding would primarily cover non-defense applications of AI, although senators are also considering a large appropriation defense-related artificial intelligence projects. Additionally, they proposed funding for cross-government AI research and development, including AI-ready data initiatives and government AI test and evaluation infrastructure.
“If China invests 50 billion dollars, and we invest nothing, they will inevitably surpass us. That’s why these investments are also so important,” Schumer said.
Many commentators believe the senator’s AI investment plan could help the country address growing concerns about China’s progress in the sector. Washington fears that Beijing could use artificial intelligence for malicious purposes, such as meddling in presidential elections or launching cyberattacks.
Additionally, US legislators have recommended the creation of a federal data privacy law and expressed support for legislation to prevent the use of “deepfake technology in election campaigns.” They also called for regulatory measures to address issues such as health and financial discrimination, job displacement and copyright infringements caused by artificial intelligence.
We need to put rules of the road in place for AI. That’s why Leader Schumer and Senators Rounds, Heinrich, and Young have been working on a bipartisan roadmap for where we need to take action, including areas I’ve focused on like our elections, protecting journalism, and increasing transparency.
—Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) May 15, 2024
Commenting on the late Senator’s AI investment proposal, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar expressed support for the recommended framework for AI, particularly in journalism, where copyright infringement has been a problem.
Lawmakers express concern over AI threat to elections
Meanwhile, US senators are sounding the alarm about the threat of artificial intelligence to elections, particularly its potential to deceive voters.
To this end, the Senate Rules Committee introduced three bills on May 15 to combat this problem: the Protection of Elections from Deceptive Artificial Intelligence Act, the AI Transparency in Elections Act, and the Elections Preparedness Act. election administrators for artificial intelligence.
I held a hearing in the Senate Rules Committee to ensure that every eligible American can make their voice heard when they vote. From protecting poll workers to creating barriers against artificial intelligence, more needs to be done to support our election administrators. pic.twitter.com/sPwaLkZzRs
— Senator Amy Klobuchar (@SenAmyKlobuchar) March 15, 2024
THE Protect elections from deceptive artificial intelligence lawintroduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar and co-sponsored by Senator Josh Hawley, would ban the use of AI video or audio related to federal candidates.
THE Law on the transparency of artificial intelligence in elections would require disclosure of artificial intelligence in political ads, while the Preparing Election Administrators for the AI Act would develop guidelines to counter external AI threats, particularly from foreign adversaries.
Recent incidents highlight the importance of these bills. In February, a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden and a campaign video from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis from last June using AI-generated images of former President Donald Trump have exposed the dangers of artificial intelligence in elections.
FAKE BIDEN ROBO-CALL TELLS NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS TO STAY HOME (Reuters)
As New Hampshire voters prepare to cast their ballots in the nation’s first state primary on Tuesday, a robo-call urging Democrats to stay home, using fake U.S. audio, is circulating across the state… pic.twitter.com/PB4D1yD8pv
— FXHedge (@Fxhedgers) January 22, 2024
These incidents highlight the urgent need for measures to protect the integrity of democratic processes from AI-based deception, which the EU is also working on.
Let us remember that the EU has set a precedent passing the AI Regulation Law in March 2024 and left grilling Big Tech on the risks of AI to elections. This is due to the content that these companies allow their users to create.