U.S. House launches bipartisan AI task force

House Speaker Mike Johnson released a statement announcing that the House has assembled an AI task force to develop policy proposals.

What happened 

On February 20, 2024, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries jointly announced the creation of a bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The task force is a strategic initiative to position America as a leader in AI innovation while addressing the complexities and potential threats posed by this transformative technology. 

 Composed of members from various congressional committees, the task force's objective is to draft a comprehensive report that will lay out guiding principles, forward-looking recommendations, and bipartisan policy proposals. This is set to assist in navigating the dual objectives of fostering AI driven economic growth, and the creation of necessary guardrails to protect national security and ensure the ethical development of AI technologies.

Why it matters

The creation of the task force comes in the wake of nuanced challenges and opportunities mentioned by experts like James Manyika. By bringing together regulatory authorities, policymakers, and industry experts, this task force strives to navigate leveraging AI for groundbreaking advancements in healthcare—such as improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficiency. They will also address concerns like privacy, bias, and the responsible use of technology. 

Manyika's insights from Google Research bring to the forefront the ideas of thoughtful and ethical AI development, stressing a framework that fosters innovation and ensures that such technologies are deployed in safe, equitable, and beneficial ways. The FG-AI4H's focus on areas such as transparency, risk management, and privacy protection echoes Manyika's call for a conscientious approach to AI. 

See also: Google Research expert explains AI doesn’t always require private data at HLTH 2023

Going deeper 

The tasks forces 24 members consist of: 

1. Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Chair
2. Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Co-Chair 
3. Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-48) 
4. Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-16) 
5. Rep. French Hill (AR-02)
6. Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
7. Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27) 
8. Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) 
9. Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02) 
10. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) 
11. Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06)
12. Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06)
13. Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03) 
14. Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08) 
15. Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18) 
16. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) 
17. Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45)
18. Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) 
19. Rep. Eric Burlison (MO-07) 
20. Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) 
21. Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15)
22. Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04)
23. Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-06) 
24. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) 

See also: Artificial Intelligence in healthcare

What was said 

Statements from the chair and co chair of the task force echoed its intention in the area of AI: 

According to Chair Jay Obernolte: “It is an honor to be entrusted by Speaker Johnson to serve as Chairman of the House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. As new innovations in AI continue to emerge, Congress and our partners in federal government must keep up. 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.

“The United States has led the world in the development of advanced AI, and we must work to ensure that AI realizes its tremendous potential to improve the lives of people across our country. I look forward to working with Co-Chair Ted Lieu and the rest of the Task Force on this critical bipartisan effort.”

A statement by Ted Lieu added: “I has the capability of changing our lives as we know it. The question is how to ensure AI benefits society instead of harming us.”

The big picture 

The next steps involve translating the outlined focus areas into actionable strategies that can be implemented globally. This means developing detailed guidelines and best practices for AI in healthcare that address transparency, risk management, data quality, privacy, external validation, and collaboration. The task force is set to engage in deeper collaboration with stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem, including AI developers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, to refine these guidelines. 

See also: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide

FAQs

What exactly does AI mean?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans.

Is there legislation to govern AI?

Strict legislation relating to AI is still in development, however there are several guidance materials.

Which sectors commonly use AI?

AI is commonly used in sectors such as healthcare, finance, automotive, technology, and entertainment.