Why OpenAI’s CEO Called for AI Safety Standards at Senate Hearing | WSJ Tech News Briefing

Tech News Briefing: US Lawmakers Discuss AI Regulation

In this video, the Wall Street Journal reports on a Senate subcommittee hearing discussing possible rules for the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Witnesses included Sam Altman, head of OpenAI, Christina Montgomery, Chief Privacy and Trust Officer at IBM, and Gary Marcus, a professor at New York University. The lawmakers discussed concerns around AI regulation including job displacement and election interference.

Witnesses Testify on AI Regulation

• Sam Altman called on lawmakers to set up licensing and safety standards for AI systems that meet certain capabilities.

• He suggested that licenses should be taken away if safety standards are not met before the system is released to the public.

• Altman also proposed creating a new agency to enforce these regulations.

• Other witnesses were more cautious about creating new agencies but agreed that some form of regulation was necessary.

Concerns Around Job Displacement

• Lawmakers expressed concern about how AI could impact employment markets.

• Altman acknowledged that some jobs would be automated away but argued that existing jobs could be improved and new jobs created.

Concerns Around Election Interference

• Senator Blumenthal played an AI-generated recording of his own voice to highlight concerns around disinformation and personal data exploitation.

• Witnesses did not provide specific solutions but agreed that regulation was necessary to prevent these issues from arising in future elections.

Lawmakers Investigate AI

In this section, Tech Policy Reporter Ryan Tracy discusses the recent hearing on AI and lawmakers' concerns about its potential impact.

Concerns Raised by Lawmakers

• Lawmakers expressed concern about how persuasive AI systems could be.

• Sam Altman suggested that there should be a policy to make it clear when content has been generated by an AI system.

• The academic witness from New York University discussed how AI creates a world where no one can trust what they see.

Other Steps Being Taken to Regulate AI

• Bills related to various aspects of AI are being introduced regularly.

• Another hearing was held in a different Senate committee about the government's use of AI.

• Sam Altman is talking to members of Congress about this topic before and after the hearing.

Unlikelihood of Immediate Regulation

• There is currently no consensus around a bill that could pass.

• It is more likely for Congress to do nothing than for them to do something.

• Members of Congress acknowledged that the industry has a responsibility to do the right thing regardless of what they do.

Conclusion

The recent hearing on AI raised concerns among lawmakers, but there is currently no consensus around regulation. While bills related to various aspects of AI are being introduced regularly, it is unlikely that any regulation will be passed soon. Members of Congress have acknowledged that the industry has a responsibility to act responsibly regardless of whether or not regulations are put in place.