Schumer asserts ‘partial agreement’ on AI laws following discussion with Musk and Zuckerberg.
Senate Majority Leader Claims Consensus on AI Regulation
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) hosted a closed-door forum at the Capitol, bringing together top tech executives to discuss the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). During a press conference, Schumer announced that there was a consensus among the participants regarding the need for AI regulation.
AI Insight Forum: A Day of Discussions
The forum, called the “AI Insight Forum,” gathered over two dozen leaders from the tech industry, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. The event consisted of a series of lectures and speeches, allowing the tech leaders to share their views on the current state of AI and provide recommendations for establishing guardrails.
In his opening remarks, Schumer emphasized the importance of bipartisan AI policy and expressed his commitment to building a foundation for such policy in Congress.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) drew a parallel between the call for AI regulation and the Manhattan Project, highlighting the urgency and significance of congressional action.
According to Schumer, at least 60 senators and several staffers attended the event. The discussions took place in rounds, with each attendee given three minutes to speak. The participants engaged in debates and addressed various industry needs.
The consensus among the speakers was that Congress should pass regulations and establish American leadership in the AI industry. Elon Musk emphasized the need for a referee to oversee the industry.
Legislation and Disagreements
When asked about the timeline for passing legislation, Schumer assured reporters that he aimed to have something passed within a few months. He also mentioned positive conversations with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Schumer criticized the European Union for rushing into AI regulation, cautioning against hasty decisions that could have negative consequences.
Attendees had differing opinions on whether AI should operate as an open-source system or follow a more closed approach.
Not all senators were fully supportive of Schumer’s forum. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called for concrete legislation rather than mere calls for action. She also noted that attendees were not allowed to ask questions, preventing her from addressing Elon Musk’s decision regarding Starlink access.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), another critic of Big Tech and the forum, expressed skepticism about the likelihood of passing legislation and criticized the process for resembling a circus.
Hawley and Warren both criticized the lack of transparency in the forum, with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) emphasizing the importance of conducting congressional business in the open.
Future Forums and Unvarnished Conversations
Schumer mentioned that some future insight forums would be shared with the public. However, for this particular forum, he aimed to facilitate an “unvarnished” conversation among the tech leaders.
The event featured prominent figures such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Sam Altman, Sundar Pichai, and others.
Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...