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The Trump administration last week released what it called a national policy framework for artificial intelligence, which it said would supersede “a patchwork of conflicting state laws” that would “undermine American innovation.”
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said they had not fully reviewed the proposal yet. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in a Friday news release, said it “takes steps in the right direction but lacks significant substance” and would hamstring states’ ability to address issues important to their constituents.
The White House’s list of legislative recommendations addresses issues that include parental control of children’s access and privacy, plus protection from deepfake images; energy ratepayers’ responsibility for data centers’ power use; large language models’ use of humans’ original works; accelerating AI’s use across industry; workforce training and new job creation; and preempting state AI laws that would interfere with federal objectives.
Congress would have to develop and pass any such legislation.
Griffith said through a spokesman on Friday that he looks forward to reviewing the framework “on how to best continue the United States’ position as the global leader in AI.”
He added: “As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over significant elements of U.S. policy in the AI race, I will work with other leaders in Congress to solve issues that may be impediments to American industry in this important global field.”
Kaine, in a statement through his office on Monday, said he was still reviewing the proposal.
“AI needs strong legislative and regulatory safeguards to keep minors safe, protect consumer privacy, and gather information on workforce effects, all while promoting innovation,” he said. “Since federal AI standards would preempt state-level standards, including those of states that have stronger protections in place already, any nationwide standard must be carefully considered and bipartisan.”
In his news release, Warner said that he has long supported bipartisan legislation regarding children’s privacy and data, and has advocated for action on nonconsensual deepfake images. Warner said that his recently introduced Economy of the Future Commission Act is intended as a first step to developing laws about education, labor, commerce and economic policy.
For two consecutive years, the Senate Intelligence Committee, of which Warner is vice chair, passed bills requiring national security agencies to address AI-related national security threats, he said. Both years, they died, which Warner blamed on President Donald Trump’s congressional allies.
“The framework is worse than silent on AI-powered mis- and disinformation, a real and growing threat to our elections, our markets, and our country,” he said in the news release. “Instead, it trots out the same old talking points about combatting partisan or ideological bias to cloak its own inaction on — and worse, its encouragement and use of — deepfakes and other AI slop being used for a wide range of harmful activity.”
Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council schedules annual gala
An event that’s like an Academy Awards or Grammys celebration for Southwest Virginia tech and life sciences is returning on May 7.
The Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council uses its annual TechNite to present awards, including top entrepreneur, innovator, tech company, leadership, educators, rising stars and the council’s hall of fame, while guests dine and sip cocktails.
TechNite is set for the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. Register and get more information at rbtc.tech/events/technite.