Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat from Michigan and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is planning a series of hearings on artificial intelligence (AI) to educate his members on the emerging technology. Congress has been facing an increasing number of calls to regulate AI, and Peters believes there is much to learn.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Peters explained that he intends to have hearings each time the Senate returns for a work period, covering different AI topics to gain a better understanding of where the technology stands today, its future trajectory, its opportunities, and its potential threats.
The senator wants to hear from a broad range of speakers, including private and nonprofit sectors, government officials, business leaders, ethicists, and civil rights and civil liberties advocates, to gain a comprehensive picture of AI.
Peters’ panel had its first AI hearing in March, examining the technology’s risks and opportunities. The next hearing will likely cover the use of AI in the public sector, focusing on government applications.
Peters introduced a bill in 2020 that was signed into law, aiming to educate government employees who procure AI technology for their offices about its capabilities and risks. He said he plans to continue down this road in the next hearing.
As lawmakers on both sides of Congress struggle to regulate AI, Peters believes the best approach is to first learn about the technology. He thinks that taking the time to gather as much information as possible is crucial before considering regulation.
Innovation is significant, and we don’t want to impede it, Peters noted. AI offers a long list of benefits, and he is hesitant to impose regulation before having a complete picture of what needs to be done and where we should keep our hands off.
Source Fox News
