Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg visit US Congress to discuss plans for AI
PTC News Desk: Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, among others, arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to discuss their plans for artificial intelligence as the United States prepares to draw up laws to better manage the technology.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the United States Senate, has set up a series of so-called AI Innovation forums, closed-door meetings where lawmakers can press tech experts about the technology that has taken the globe by storm since its unveiling last year.
Europe has made significant progress in developing its own AI Act, and the emphasis is on US lawmakers to avoid falling behind and allowing AI to overtake society, resulting in job losses, rampant disinformation, and other effects, before it is too late.
"Today, we begin an enormous and complex and vital undertaking: building a foundation for bipartisan AI policy that Congress can pass," Schumer said.
"In past situations when things were this difficult, the natural reaction...was to ignore the problem and let someone else do the job. But with AI we can't be like ostriches sticking our heads in the sand.
The forum was also attended by OpenAI CEO and ChatGPT developer Sam Altman, as well as Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
"I'm very optimistic about (AI), but it doesn't mean that there won't be some rockiness along the way," Sam Altman said. "I have been very impressed with our interactions with lawmakers even though I know our industry loves to dig on them," he further said.
Given Washington's profound political divisions, it's unclear whether the US Congress can pass legislation to curb AI innovators with clear guidelines.
Tech firms also work hard to keep a light-touch regulatory regime that is pro-business and preserves innovation.
Some senators complained that the discussion was closed to the public and that tech companies were given too much power to influence lawmakers.
"This is not how it should be," said Senator Josh Hawley.
"Senator Schumer has talked about tech for two years now and he hasn't put a single significant tech bill on the floor."
This is also Musk and Zuckerberg's first known meeting since the Tesla CEO proposed a cage fight with his Meta counterpart.
Elon Musk was also in the same room as Bill Gates, with whom he has a strained relationship, according to a best-selling biography of Musk published on Tuesday.
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- With inputs from agencies
