The quickly growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry is evidently attracting attention from the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ), according to comments from DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter.
Key Details
- During a South by Southwest (SXSW) festival discussion in Austin, Texas, Kanter told the audience that his agency is closely monitoring AI and its rapid growth.
- Kanter explained that the agency is monitoring this new tool and has hired data scientists and other experts to help the department better understand the technology.
- Alongside Kanter at SXSW, dozens of panels and events claimed to show audiences the future of AI, as much of the event focused on the emerging technology.
- Kanter is known for his aggressive approach to antitrust cases, and his warning to the AI industry indicates that this sector will not escape regulation, Axios reports.
Why it’s news
More questions about proper industry regulation have emerged as more companies race to implement generative AI in their business models. Potential dangers stemming from the new technology are growing. Some worry about its effect on available jobs, others about its ability to spread misinformation, and still others view AI facial recognition with concern about potential bias. Even with these concerns, lawmakers have yet to propose AI regulations.
AI development is moving more quickly than regulators can act, leaving them to decipher the new technology and play catch up. Recently Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) have spoken out about potential dangers from ChatGPT, but neither has introduced legislation.
The problem, at least according to Representative Jay Obernolte (R-CA), is legislators do not understand what they are looking at. Understanding a topic plays a role in proper regulation. If legislators have minimal knowledge of an issue, there can be over or under-regulation. Lawmakers could even address an area that doesn’t need regulation or upend a sector that was already functioning correctly.
Kanter’s comments about the DOJ monitoring AI development indicate that yet another government entity is preparing to fence in AI’s sprawling influence. Unlike other regulators who have expressed similar concerns, Kanter has a greater reputation for moving swiftly.