A bipartisan group of US senators is organizing educational briefings this summer to improve understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in Congress. This effort is driven by recognition of the profound impact AI could have on national security, education, and employment. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has planned three sessions, one of which is a classified briefing on the Department of Defense and intelligence community’s use of AI and developments in adversarial nations.
Key Points:
- Lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties recognize the need to deepen their understanding of AI and machine learning due to the technologies’ potential influence on various sectors.
- Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced three educational briefings to take place over the summer, including a classified session regarding AI usage by the US Department of Defense and intelligence community, and developments in countries like China and Russia.
- Policymaking and spending decisions related to AI can be hindered by a lack of general understanding of technology and its various aspects, including machine learning, autonomy, bots, and large language models.
- The briefings aim to develop a common understanding of AI and machine learning among members of the US Senate on a bipartisan basis.
- Public attention to AI grew significantly following the November launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which is capable of holding convincing conversations or creating computer code with minimal input.
