Reps. Hurd, Kelly Push for New AI Resolution

Representatives Will Hurd (R-TX) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) recently proposed creating a national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy in a concurrent resolution. The resolution consists of 78 actions that would lead to an overarching AI strategy in the United States. These actions have been suggested after many stakeholder meetings discussing AI policy challenges, development, spending, workforce training, and ethical issues.

This push for AI development and research is part of a long effort by Congress to pursue modernization and develop new avenues for growth in AI. For example, this year’s NDAA includes a recommendation made by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission that would bring back the position of Cybersecurity Coordinator. Also, the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously voted to advance a bill that would offer cash and non-cash prizes for cybersecurity innovations, although the bill has yet to advance further.

In a press release from September 18, 2020, Rep. Hurd said, “America leads the world in innovation, but to keep up we must embrace AI in the government, private sector and education. This means preparing America’s workforce, countering our adversaries’ commitment to AI, investing in R&D and shaping the ethical guidelines and rules of AI based on America’s values, not that of an authoritarian regime, like Russia or China.”

The resolution includes a number of educational actions including increasing technology education funding, restructuring computer and data science education, improving workforce diversity, and supporting work-based training programs.

The resolution proposes national security actions including leading international AI forums, working with American allies to counteract adversaries, and ensuring ethical use by national security agencies. The ethics section of the resolution covers mitigating bias in AI and addresses privacy concerns.

In terms of research and development, the actions proposed by the resolution strive to increase funding for AI and develop voluntary standards alongside industry and academia.

This resolution would provide future congresses with a framework for debating AI specifics as China, an adversary to the United States, expands its technological capabilities. Rep. Hurd explains that this resolution would not establish a Department of Artificial Intelligence, but would rather establish a national strategy where all relevant agencies would have a role in organizing and securing data and procuring high-capacity compute and developing algorithms.

Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA), a co-sponsor of the resolution, said in a statement, “The important legislation we’re introducing today addresses those goals by calling for a unified national plan with respect to artificial intelligence that will place the United States at the forefront of this groundbreaking research both scientifically and ethically.”

Representatives Steve Chabot (R-OH), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Michael Cloud (R-TX), and Jim Baird (R-IN) all co-sponsored the resolution.