Should Congress Get Updates About Advancements in Artificial Intelligence? (H.R. 6090)

What is H.R. 6090?

(Updated June 14, 2020)

This bill ― the Artificial Intelligence Reporting (AIR) Act ― would require the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (MLAI) to submit a report to Congress every 120 days covering the advancements in machine learning in America.

The report would include:

• A strategic plan for unclassified machine learning and artificial intelligence research and development, in consultation with the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program and appropriate subgroups of such programs including the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Interagency Working Group.

• The use and status of unclassified machine learning and artificial intelligence applications across the federal government.

• Efforts taken to enhance the Federal research and development enterprise by embracing a diverse workforce.

Argument in favor

Artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to be a disruptive economic influence ― for better and worse ― so it makes sense for Congress to get periodic updates about AI advancements.

Argument opposed

It’s unlikely that periodic reports on advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) will improve lawmakers’ understanding of the technology or any resulting legislation.

Impact

Labor force; the science and engineering community; the White House; and Congress.

Cost of H.R. 6090

A CBO estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) introduced this bill to ensure that Congress is updated about advancements in artificial intelligence:

“New and emerging technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence are transforming businesses in every industry and sector. However, these technologies will also cause major disruptions in our labor forces. H.R. 6090 will provide us the data to continue to be a global leader in research and development and science and technology. Most importantly, it will provide Congress the data to diversify the federal R&D workforce and prepare America’s workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.”

Of Note: On May 3, 2016, President Barack Obama’s White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced a “series of workshops and an interagency working group to learn more about the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence (AI).”

As part of the initiative, OSTP announced that it would co-host four public workshops and an inter-agency working group to study the benefits and risks of AI. The mission of the four workshops was “to spur public dialogue on AI and machine learning and identify challenges and opportunities related to this emerging technology.”

In addition, OSTP also announced the creation of a new National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (MLAI). The Subcommittee on MLAI was established by action of the NSTC, Committee on Technology (COT). According to the charter of the MLAI subcommittee, “the purpose of the MLAI is to monitor the state of art in machine learning and artificial intelligence (within the Federal Government, in the private sector, and internationally)…”

The AIR Act of 2018 will simply ensure that the Subcommittee on MLAI submits a report to Congress 120 days after the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter. This report will include the following components already existent in the charter of MLAI.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) Press Release