ChatGPT’s sudden success and popularity have led to tech leaders implementing the technology at every turn, so far with very little government oversight.
Key Details
- The potential uses of artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT have excited the imagination of tech companies around the country, but the tech still has flaws, and limited government regulation has raised some concerns.
- ChatGPT often makes mistakes. Critics also worry that the chatbot could promote misinformation or bias.
- Some lawmakers are beginning to suggest that government regulators should step in to ensure the AI doesn’t cause more problems than it solves.
- Others argue the opposite, saying that premature regulation could prevent further development and that the technology is developing too quickly for the government to regulate it effectively.
Why it’s news
Some AI regulation already exists in the U.S., but federal regulation is only in the beginning stages. Congressional lawmakers are already looking to regulate AI usage around facial recognition, and the White House has released its “AI Bill of Rights” that offers guidelines for potential regulation.
A few lawmakers have suggested creating a specific agency to monitor AI regulation. “We can harness and regulate AI to create a more utopian society or risk having an unchecked, unregulated AI push us toward a more dystopian future,” Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) says.
The Federal Trade Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other entities are already suggesting certain regulations and potential rules for AI usage. Earlier this week, the National Institute of Standards and Technology published an AI framework to guide companies who plan to use AI systems.
However, critics have noted that the framework is a suggestion, not an actual rule. Companies can choose to follow the guidelines or ignore them. The hope is that the guidelines will serve as a starting point for AI regulation.
Actual regulation in the U.S. will take time. European leaders have already started working on regulations which are expected to be voted on in the spring. European restrictions will apply to businesses outside of Europe.
The rapid growth of ChatGPT could incentivize U.S. lawmakers to move more quickly. However, the nearly limitless applications of AI make regulations difficult. Currently, the Federal Trade Commission is focusing on regulating surveillance and security systems that use AI technology.