An aging Congress' dilemma: Can they regulate AI without using it?
Members of Congress and governors are under increasing pressure to regulate AI , but more than two dozen of them who spoke with Axios said they don't use the technology or have rarely done so. Why it matters: That striking admission — particularly among older, influential lawmakers — comes amid calls for an AI slowdown and warnings within the industry that it could end humanity if left unchecked.…
In a recent report, lawmakers expressed their reluctance to use AI technology despite calls for its regulation. Several influential members of Congress, including senators and representatives, stated they never use AI or have rarely done so. This stance comes as calls for an AI slowdown grow louder and warnings within the industry highlight the potential risks AI poses to humanity.
Critics argue that politicians, particularly older and influential ones, cannot fully grasp the rapid changes AI brings or the threats and breakthroughs it may unleash if they do not use or acknowledge the technology.
One House Democrat called the situation "f*cking absurd" and emphasized that anyone overseeing AI must be a regular user. Rob Flaherty, a 35-year-old Democratic digital strategist, agreed, stating that understanding AI's capabilities is crucial for determining how to regulate it. Sen. Jim Banks, a 47-year-old Republican, echoed this sentiment, asserting that having experience with AI is essential for legislating related issues.
Several lawmakers, including those in senior positions and responsible for key committees, admitted they have not used AI.
Sen. Roger Wicker, a 75-year-old Republican and chair of the Armed Services Committee, revealed he had never used AI personally. Rep. Frank Pallone, a 74-year-old Democrat and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, admitted he needed a primer on AI as it's crucial to engage with this technology. The head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. James Risch, 83, also said he had no personal experience with AI.
Some lawmakers expressed confusion about colleagues' lack of AI usage, with Sen. John Hickenlooper jokingly saying, "I use it for everything!" However, there are lawmakers, such as Rep. Bobby Scott and Rep. Don Beyer, who use AI daily and prefer AI tools for machine learning. Despite the high-profile politicians' stance on AI, others with similar experience levels use AI regularly, indicating a discrepancy between the lawmakers' perspectives and their actual usage.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
