WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — After multiple public discussions in the Senate on artificial intelligence, the House has launched a bipartisan task force to focus on the topic and issue recommendations for legislation.
Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Ted Lieu, D-Calif., will co-chair the 24-member group, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., announced Tuesday.
The lawmakers appointed to the task force “have AI expertise and represent the relevant committees of jurisdiction,” Johnson said in a statement.
“As we look to the future, Congress must continue to encourage innovation and maintain our country’s competitive edge, protect our national security, and carefully consider what guardrails may be needed to ensure the development of safe and trustworthy technology,” he added.
The group is tasked with writing a report that will include policy proposals and other recommendations.
“House Republicans and Democrats will work together to create a comprehensive report detailing the regulatory standards and congressional actions needed to both protect consumers and foster continued investment and innovation in AI,” Obernolte said.
“Because advancements in artificial intelligence have the potential to rapidly transform our economy and our society, it is important for Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to understand and plan for both the promises and the complexities of this transformative technology,” Johnson said.
“Congress has a responsibility to facilitate the promising breakthroughs that artificial intelligence can bring to fruition and ensure that everyday Americans benefit from these advancements in an equitable manner,” Jeffries said in a statement.
A bipartisan group of senators hosted a series of nine forums on artificial intelligence last year. So far, legislation on AI has stalled.
The creation of the House task force “shows there is bipartisan, bicameral agreement that Congress needs to understand and grapple with issues related to AI,” Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., one of the hosts of the Senate forums, told NewsNation. “Congress will play a critical role in helping to harness the benefits and mitigate the potential risks of AI.”
In October, President Joe Biden issued an executive order on artificial intelligence, creating new safety standards and tasking the U.S. Department of Commerce with establishing authentication and watermarking rules for AI-generated content.