Ted Cruz's Plan: Loosening Regulations for AI Companies
Most tech companies operate like they prefer forgiveness over permission. But it seems some don't even need to ask for forgiveness when they have allies like Ted Cruz, who appears eager to let them off the hook before they even mess up.
According to reports, the Texas Senator is planning to introduce legislation that would essentially give AI companies a free pass from federal regulations, allowing them to test new products without the usual oversight. It seems like a pretty sweet deal for these companies.
The proposed bill would allow AI firms to apply for a two-year waiver, protecting them from federal "enforcement, licensing, or authorization" requirements. Instead, they'd operate in a "regulatory sandbox" managed by the White House's science and technology office. I wonder how strict the "sandbox" monitors will be, considering the office is headed by someone with ties to the AI industry.
But wait, there's more! After the initial two years, companies can apply for another eight years of freedom. That's a total of ten years of unregulated development!. If you ask me, it's quite a long time to develop potentially powerful technologies without proper oversight.
It's worth remembering that Cruz previously proposed a 10-year ban on state-level regulations for AI companies. That proposal didn't go through, but it shows where the Senator's priorities lie.
While the final details of the bill are still under wraps, it's expected that Cruz will introduce it while Michael Kratsios is testifying before the Senate. This move fulfills promises Cruz made to AI firms months ago, when he suggested a "light touch" approach to AI regulations. It'll be interesting to see if Republicans, who have shown some skepticism towards AI, will support stripping away regulatory power. The fact that states retained the right to pass AI-related laws might make them more willing to loosen federal rules.
Source: Gizmodo