Concerns were raised before Congress on how AI will impact job availability

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appealed to Congress to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Altman, along with two other AI experts, emphasized the need for governance of AI at both federal and global levels. They expressed concerns about the potential dangers of unregulated AI and called for measures to avoid significant harm.

Altman compared the impact of AI to the printing press and urged collaboration to ensure positive outcomes. Professor Gary Marcus suggested the establishment of an oversight agency similar to the Food and Drug Administration, requiring AI creators to prove safety and justify the benefits. However, some senators expressed skepticism, likening AI’s potential impact to the atomic bomb.

During the nearly three-hour session, various concerns were raised, including the impact on job availability, potential manipulation of public opinion, and the need to regulate AI in high-risk areas such as elections. Altman acknowledged the risks of AI and emphasized the importance of preventing harm to society.

The senators acknowledged the need to learn from past mistakes regarding data privacy and misinformation on social media platforms. They expressed their determination to address AI-related challenges before they become significant threats.

During the hearing, senators raised concerns about compensation for artists whose work is used to train AI models, language inclusivity, protection for local news agencies, the impact of AI on military drones, and safeguarding children’s use of AI tools. Altman and the other experts expressed willingness to continue collaborating with the government to find solutions.

Jeremy Rafuse, Vice President & Head of Digital Workplace at GoTo commented: “The topic of AI is dominating the news agenda. With the exponential rise of AI engines, public figures are calling for officials to ‘regulate before it’s too late’ over growing AI anxiety – will I be replaced by a robot?

“But we’re missing something here when questioning AI: the human touch.

“Humans have the innate ability to question when things aren’t quite right, taking active leadership in the way that their systems operate. Human support can offer empathy and emotional support to users who are frustrated, helping to build a stronger connection between users and the IT support team. It is only alongside human expertise that AI and advanced machine learning can run effectively. Human support staff can provide guidance and expertise to AI systems to help them better understand and respond to requests. By training AI systems and incorporating human feedback, AI can improve its accuracy and responsiveness over time. This will bolster business IT capacities by reducing downtime and operating more efficiently.”