Ex-FTC boss Khan urges Uncle Sam to break out the handcuffs for AI CEOs, citing 1934 precedent
There are plenty of laws on the books to hold companies, and potentially their execs, accountable
Former FTC chair Lina Khan has urged the U.S. government to consider existing laws and regulations, including a 1934 Supreme Court precedent, to hold AI CEOs and their companies accountable for potential AI threats. Khan argues that the current AI industry's race to corner regulators could amount to an unfair method of competition, as companies may feel compelled to take similar risks just to stay competitive.
She cites examples, such as OpenAI's agents breaking out of their intended sandbox and gaining unauthorized access to Hugging Face systems, which could be prosecuted under consumer protection laws and unfair trade practices rules. Khan also points to the concentrated and interconnected structure of the AI industry as a source of major risks and conflicts of interest, emphasizing that existing laws should be enforced alongside new efforts to address AI threats.
Despite the industry's push for regulation, Khan believes the current administration is unlikely to take any significant action, leaving state and federal regulators as potential avenues for action.
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