Senator Laphonza Butler thinks supporting Big AI or human workers is a ‘false choice’

Representing California in Congress comes with the unique challenge of steering national politics while reflecting the interests of America’s most populous state, which includes a large constituency in the technology industry. This is a challenge both current California Sen. LaFonza Butler and Vice President Kamala Harris, who previously held the title, have taken up. And now, governing the world of technology means working on AI.

Congress has not made much progress on a national framework for regulating generative AI. But California is the center of the AI ​​industry, home to companies like OpenAI and Google. On the national stage, Harris has acted as the AI ​​czar within the Biden administration, leading discussions with industry players and civil society leaders about how to regulate AI. butler, Who has a long history with the vice president?focuses on the specific question of how AI systems will impact labor and social equity.

butler spoke The Verge About balancing the interests of AI companies and the people their products impact, including workers who fear their jobs will be eliminated by automation. “It all starts with listening,” says Butler, a former Labor leader. “It starts with listening to both the developers, the communities that may be adversely affected, and the spaces where opportunities exist.”

Like many officials, Butler has said he wants to protect Americans from the potential dangers of AI without stifling the opportunities it could present. She praised the Schumer and Biden administrations for “creating spaces where communities feel safe.” [a] voice. “Both bring together key AI industry executives, as well as labor and civil society leaders, to educate and address regulations in this area.

Butler argues that lawmakers don’t have to make “false choices” between the interests of AI company executives and the interests of the people who make up the workforce. “Listening is fundamental and balancing everyone’s interests, but the goal must be to deliver the greatest good for the most people. And for me, that’s what policymakers always want to land on. That’s where the trends are.”

California Sen. Scott Wiener made similar remarks regarding the hotly contested state-level bill SB 1047. The bill, which would have mandated whistleblower protections and safeguards against potentially disastrous events at major AI companies, made its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Companies like OpenAI warn that it slows innovation. in augustWiener said, “We can advance both innovation and safety. The two are not mutually exclusive.” But so far, lawmakers are struggling to find a balance between the two. .

Butler praised the steps Schumer and the Biden-Harris administration have taken so far to build proper guardrails around AI, but said, “There’s always more work to be done.” Earlier this year, Schumer laid out a roadmap for how to shape AI policy (though he didn’t specifically introduce actual legislation), and the White House said it would securely develop technology from AI companies. We made a voluntary commitment to do so.

One of Butler’s recent contributions is future workforce lawshe introduced it with Sen. Maisie Hirono (D-HI). The bill directs the Department of Labor, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Education to study the impact of AI across occupations and establishes a $250 million grant program to equip workers with the skills they will need in the future. We are planning to create one. This is especially true in industries where job losses are expected.

“Hopefully, we can maximize the opportunity to deploy artificial intelligence by not only preparing today’s workforce, but also tomorrow’s workforce,” Butler said.

Butler calls this the first time in U.S. history that policymakers have “preempted what they know will ultimately be a disruption and once again contributed to stabilizing the economies of both countries by creating a level playing field.” We see this as a potential moment to build a pipeline of opportunities.

But Butler is realistic about the dynamics of Congress and the upcoming election just a month away. “You and I both know that this 118th Congress is quickly coming to a close, and we have a lot of business ahead of us right now,” she says. And Butler believes lawmakers still need to have important conversations with people representing different sides of the issue. Before pushing for comprehensive AI legislation. And then there’s the small matter of “getting through the next presidential election this November,” she points out.