Some lawmakers doubt a Congress that’s ‘barely capable of email’ can regulate AI

WASHINGTON — Amid warnings that artificial intelligence could soon wipe out humanity, some lawmakers are not confident that Congress has the expertise or ability to regulate AI.

“A lot of them can’t spell it,” quipped Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. “They just don’t have the experience.”

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., was equally skeptical. “They still don’t know how to get on the internet,” let alone understand AI, he said.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who represents parts of Silicon Valley, argued that many members of Congress are just not up to speed on AI, and some seem uninterested.

“The problem in Congress is not that we don’t have enough computer scientists. It’s that we don’t have enough people who have a basic understanding of how the technology works or are using it,” Khanna said in an interview with NBC News.

“It’s like talking about making the rules for driving the road. You don’t have to be an auto mechanic, but it would be nice if you at least were a passenger in a car or had driven a car,” he continued. “And we’ve had a lot of members of Congress who’ve not been passengers in a car when it comes to AI…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business