A diverse and influential group of AI stakeholders
On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, more than 20 tech and civil society leaders gathered for a closed-door meeting with the US Senate to discuss how artificial intelligence should be regulated. The meeting, which was organized by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, included the CEOs of five of the 10 biggest US companies by market capitalization: Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Tesla, and IBM. They were joined by other prominent figures in the AI field, such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Harvard Law professor Jonathan Zittrain, and Berkeley researcher Deb Raji. The meeting also featured representatives from labor unions, civil rights groups, and writers guilds.
The meeting was a rare opportunity for a diverse and influential group of AI stakeholders to share their views and concerns with lawmakers. Schumer said he wanted to hear from the experts about the potential benefits and risks of AI, as well as the best practices and principles for governing the technology. He also said he hoped to foster collaboration and consensus among the participants.
Diverging views on AI regulation
However, finding common ground among the attendees was not easy, as they had different perspectives and interests on AI regulation. According to several people who were in the room, some of the areas of disagreement were:
- The risks of open-source AI research. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued that open-source AI could pose a threat to national security and public safety, as it could enable malicious actors to access powerful AI models. He suggested that some forms of AI research should be restricted or licensed.
- On the other hand, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the value of open-source AI for advancing scientific discovery and innovation. He said that OpenAI’s mission was to ensure that AI was aligned with human values and accessible to everyone. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also weighed in on the debate, saying that open-source AI could be beneficial if it was accompanied by ethical standards and oversight mechanisms.
- The safety and accountability of AI-powered self-driving cars. Tesla CEO Elon Musk downplayed the concerns about AI-powered self-driving cars, saying that they were safer and more efficient than human drivers. He also claimed that Tesla had a transparent and rigorous process for testing and improving its Autopilot system.
- However, Berkeley researcher Deb Raji challenged Musk’s assertions, saying that there was a lack of evidence and data to support them. She also pointed out that Tesla had faced several lawsuits and investigations over its self-driving car crashes and fatalities. She called for more regulation and auditing of self-driving car companies to ensure their safety and accountability.
- The balance between innovation and protection in AI legislation. Several tech executives expressed their support for a federal AI legislation that would provide clarity and consistency for the industry, as well as foster innovation and competitiveness. However, they also cautioned against over-regulation or prescriptive rules that could stifle creativity and flexibility.
- They advocated for a risk-based and outcome-oriented approach that would focus on the use cases and impacts of AI, rather than the technology itself. They also suggested that the government should collaborate with the private sector and other stakeholders to develop voluntary guidelines and best practices for AI. Meanwhile, some civil society leaders argued that voluntary guidelines were not enough to protect the public interest and human rights. They urged the government to adopt binding rules and penalties for AI that could harm people or society. They also emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and participation in AI governance.
A productive discussion despite the differences
Despite some heated exchanges and personal tensions among some of the attendees, most of them described the discussion as productive and constructive overall. They said they appreciated the opportunity to hear different perspectives and learn from each other. They also expressed their willingness to continue the dialogue and work together on finding solutions for AI regulation.
Schumer thanked the participants for their input and insights, saying that he was impressed by their passion and expertise. He said he hoped that the meeting would serve as a catalyst for further action and collaboration on AI policy. He also said he planned to introduce a comprehensive AI bill in Congress soon, based on the input he received from the meeting.
