Washington (AP) With artificial intelligence at a critical juncture in its development, the federal government is poised to shift its priorities from protecting AI to cutting red tape.
Some investors find it to be a tempting prospect, but it raises questions about the future of any technological restrictions, particularly with regard to the use of AI deepfakes in political campaigns and elections.
President Joe Biden’s expansive AI executive order, which aimed to safeguard people’s rights and safety without limiting innovation, will be revoked, according to President-elect Donald Trump. Although he hasn’t stated what he would do in its place, the Republican National Committee’s freshly redesigned platform stated that AI development should be based on human flourishing and free speech.
It’s unclear if Congress, which is likely to be entirely controlled by Republicans, will be motivated to enact any legislation pertaining to artificial intelligence. There is still interest in increasing the use of technology in national security and combating non-consensual graphic photographs, according to interviews with a dozen lawmakers and business experts.
But as GOP lawmakers reject anything they see as potentially stifling free speech or innovation, the use of AI in elections and disinformation campaigns is probably going to take a backseat.
Rep. Jay Obernolte, a Republican from California who is regarded as a pioneer in the developing field, stated that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly boost human productivity and improve our economy. Establishing the necessary structure to stop negative things from happening while yet allowing for innovation requires a careful balance.
For years, advocates of artificial intelligence have been anticipating comprehensive federal law. However, because Congress was unable to agree on almost any issue, it merely produced a number of papers and ideas rather than passing any legislation pertaining to artificial intelligence.
Some legislators think that some AI-related topics have enough bipartisan support to enact legislation.
Democratic Senator Gary Peters noted national security as one possible area of agreement, saying, “I find there are Republicans that are very interested in this topic.” I have faith that I can collaborate with them as I have in the past.
Republicans’ level of support for government involvement in AI research is yet unknown. Concerned that it would raise First Amendment issues at a time when Trump’s campaign and other Republicans were using the technology to create political memes, few expressed interest in regulating how the Federal Election Commission or the Federal Communications Commission handled AI-generated content prior to this year’s election.
When Trump took office, the FCC was in the midst of a protracted process to create regulations pertaining to artificial intelligence. Since then, that work has been put on hold due to long-standing regulations pertaining to administration changes.
In regards to artificial intelligence, Trump has shown both curiosity and skepticism.
In an interview with Fox Business earlier this year, he described the technology as frightening and extremely hazardous because there isn’t a practical remedy. However, compared to his Democratic rivals, his campaign and supporters also adopted AI-generated pictures more. They frequently employed them in social media posts that aimed to strengthen Republican political beliefs rather than to deceive.
Depending on how the technology is used, Elon Musk, Trump’s close advisor and the inventor of multiple AI-reliant businesses, has expressed both excitement and fear about it.
Throughout the election, Musk promoted AI-generated photos and videos on his social media site, X. Trump has been openly urged to choose Musk as his chief artificial intelligence adviser by representatives of the nonprofit organization Americans for Responsible Innovation.
Doug Calidas, a senior member of the team, stated, “We believe Elon has a fairly sophisticated understanding of both the opportunities and risks of advanced AI systems.”
Others, however, are concerned about Musk’s advice to Trump regarding AI. Peters contended that it might undermine the administration.
The Democrat from Michigan stated that it is a cause for concern. Always be wary of guidance and counsel from people who have a significant financial stake in a certain technology.
Many artificial intelligence (AI) specialists voiced concerns in the lead-up to the election regarding a last-minute deepfake of a realistic AI image, video, or audio clip that could influence or perplex voters as they went to the polls. According to Vivian Schiller, executive director of Aspen Digital, a division of the nonpartisan Aspen Institute think tank, AI had an impact on the election even though those concerns were never realized.
She stated of AI in the 2024 election, “I wouldn’t use the term that I hear a lot of people using, which is it was the dog that didn’t bark.” It was present, but not in the manner we had anticipated.
AI-powered algorithms were utilized by campaigns to target voters with messages. AI-generated memes felt genuine enough to widen party gaps, despite not being realistic enough to be mistaken for real.
In robocalls, a political consultant imitated Joe Biden’s voice, which, if they hadn’t been discovered right away, may have discouraged voters from casting ballots in New Hampshire’s primary. Additionally, foreign players created and automated phony websites and online profiles using AI capabilities to disseminate false information to Americans.
Even if AI didn’t ultimately affect the outcome of the election, the technology gained political traction and helped create a climate in which American voters aren’t sure that what they are witnessing is accurate. Some in the AI sector are calling for rules that set guidelines in part because of that dynamic.
Craig Albright, the top lobbyist and senior vice president at The Software Alliance, a trade association whose members include OpenAI, Oracle, and IBM, said that it is good news that President Trump and members of his team have stated that they do not want to stifle the technology and instead want to support its development. We believe that enacting national legislation to establish the norms of the road will help the technology’s markets grow.
“At a recent meeting in San Francisco, advocates for AI safety made similar arguments,” said Suresh Venkatasubramanian, head of Brown University’s Center for Tech Responsibility.
“We were able to get cars that could roll a lot faster by putting literal guardrails, lanes, and road rules,” said Venkatasubramanian, a former Biden administration official who contributed to the creation of White House principles for handling AI.
According to Rob Weissman, co-president of the advocacy group Public Citizen, Trump’s promise to revoke Biden’s executive order, which established the first set of national standards for the sector, worries him and he is not optimistic about the chances for federal legislation. In elections, his group has pushed for federal regulation of generative AI.
According to him, the precautions themselves are means of encouraging innovation so that we have safe, practical AI that doesn’t exclude anyone and advances the technology in ways that benefit the general population.
___
The Omidyar Network supports coverage of artificial intelligence and its social effects, while a number of private foundations help the Associated Press improve its coverage of elections and democracy. All content is the exclusive responsibility of AP. Learn more about AP’s democracy program here, and visit AP.org to view a list of funded coverage areas and supporters.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!