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An inside look at Congress’s first AI regulation forum

Sep 25, 2023 - technologyreview.com
Inioluwa Deborah Raji, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, and a fellow at Mozilla, attended the "AI Insight Forum" on September 13, 2023, in Washington, DC. The forum, part of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's "SAFE Innovation" initiative, aimed to discuss principles for AI legislation in the US. Raji shared that while the forum was heavily attended by Big Tech CEOs, the conversation was more of an informational rallying effort than a genuine opportunity for meaningful policy discourse and recommendations. She also expressed concern about the overhyping of AI's capabilities by tech CEOs and the need for more representation of non-corporate perspectives in these discussions.

Raji's main goal at the forum was to debunk myths about AI's current capabilities and the challenges of addressing bias and fairness in AI systems. She also highlighted the immediate risks and harms of prematurely deploying AI technologies that are not ready, particularly for marginalized communities. Despite her efforts, Raji expressed uncertainty about whether her points were fully understood, as many senators continued to echo the tech CEOs' optimistic views on AI. She emphasized the need for a more accurate understanding of AI's limitations and the realities on the ground.

Key takeaways:

  • Researcher Inioluwa Deborah Raji attended the "AI Insight Forum" and provided a reality check on the big claims made by tech CEOs about what AI could do.
  • The AI Insight Forums were announced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as part of his “SAFE Innovation” initiative, a set of principles for AI legislation in the United States.
  • Raji, an expert in AI accountability, bias, and risk assessments, emphasized the need to debunk the myths around how well AI systems are working, especially for marginalized groups.
  • She also highlighted the need for more regulation in the form of auditing, third-party evaluations, and verification to prevent the premature deployment of AI technologies that are not ready.
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