Technology and Science26 September, 20263 min read
U.S. Congress Intensifies AI Regulation Moves As Trump, Mike Johnson Meet Tech CEOs
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Congress accelerates AI regulation with multiple proposals amid safety and oversight concerns. Trump and Johnson set meetings with tech CEOs to discuss AI safety and regulation.
5 outlets told this the same way.
Congress, AI, and Autonomy
The U.S. Congress is intensifying moves to regulate advanced artificial intelligence technologies as lawmakers weigh potential risks tied to modern models that could have high degrees of autonomy and perform complex tasks.
Congressional discussions focus on the risks of the so-called self-improving iterative improvement, a theoretical scenario in which advanced AI systems could contribute to the development of more capable models.
The legislative debate centers on whether companies should conduct safety tests, risk assessments, and report issues before bringing advanced models into widespread use, or whether the government should play a larger role in testing models and assessing their safety before public release.
Sen. Thom Tillis says, "A lot of them can’t spell it," and Sen. Ruben Gallego says, "They still don’t know how to get on the internet," as they question Congress’s ability to regulate AI.
President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson are due to meet technology executives on September 29 to discuss artificial intelligence, with a source confirming the meeting but not disclosing the executives or agenda.
Skepticism and a Gates Push
Rep. Ro Khanna argues, "The problem in Congress is not that we don’t have enough computer scientists."
Khanna continues by saying, "It’s that we don’t have enough people who have a basic understanding of how the technology works," and he compares AI rulemaking to driving without being a passenger or having driven a car.
Sen. Mark Kelly says, "It’s much easier" to fly a fighter jet than to pass AI legislation, as Capitol Hill remains slow on sweeping technology regulation.
Bill Gates told Kristen Welker that, "No one thinks self-regulation is enough," and the same article says Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson will host an AI summit with tech leaders in Washington on Tuesday.
Trump has repeatedly said he does not want to "stifle growth of something that will be bigger than the industrial revolution," and it says he dismissed apocalyptic warnings as a "hoax" while arguing regulations will impede America in its race with China for AI dominance.
States, Safety Protocols, and Stakes
The attorneys general of 23 states, along with Washington, D.C., and American Samoa, signed a letter to congressional leaders Thursday demanding "comprehensive federal regulation and safety protocols" for artificial intelligence. The attorneys general cited recent incidents of AI systems operating beyond their safeguards, and it places the push within a broader agreement that both major political parties in Congress appear to agree on some level of regulating advanced technology. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport co-led a coalition of 26 attorneys general urging congressional leaders to adopt comprehensive federal regulations, citing risks to public safety, critical infrastructure and national security.
“The AI industry should be treated no differently than other industries whose technologies have the potential to cause enormous harm to people.”
Davenport said, "The amazing promise of AI—whether to detect cancer faster or to aid drug discovery—will mean nothing in the end if our residents’ health and finances," and she added, "The AI industry should be treated no differently than other industries whose technologies have the potential to cause enormous harm to people." The coalition argues self-regulation is insufficient and calls for federal legislation focused on six areas including mandatory federal oversight of safety testing and standards, transparent, government-led responses to AI incidents, and international cooperation.