What to Know in Washington: AI Unites Bipartisan Senate Group
By Giuseppe Macri and Brandon Lee
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The face of the artificial intelligence fever sweeping the US — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman — gripped Washington this May when he pleaded under oath for the first time for Congress to regulate the technology. Yet behind the scenes on Capitol Hill, an unexpected crew knew that plea was coming and started to assemble.
The bipartisan group of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have been meeting almost weekly since Altman’s testimony, racing to formulate rules that protect Americans from AI’s worst threats, such as biological weapons and mass unemployment, but also promote the technology’s potential to cure diseases and curb hunger.
Adding to that challenge: Such legislation would need to pass a deeply divided Congress facing a packed agenda, a largely unsuccessful history of regulating technology, and an upcoming election heightening partisan politics. Still, in interviews with the senators, former staffers, and close observers, optimism is running high that the rare but mighty alliance can pull off the extraordinarily complex task of confronting AI.
Each senator brings legislative prowess to the table: Schumer is building on recent bipartisan dealmaking, Young spearheaded negotiations on last year’s successful CHIPS and Science Act, Rounds’ national security knowledge can address AI’s risks, and Heinrich back in 2019 founded the Senate’s AI caucus that championed several initial measures. Read Oma Seddiq’s full deep dive on the Senate’s AI supergroup.
BIDEN’S AGENDA
- President Joe Biden departs the White House shortly before 5 p.m. to travel to the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, India.
- Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will gaggle aboard Air Force One.
CONGRESS’ SCHEDULE
- The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to vote on Biden’s nominees to the Federal Reserve and FCC.
Happening on Capitol Hill
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McCarthy Urges Cutting Reliance on China
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People, Power, and Politics
Trump Georgia Judge Questions October Trial
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Trump Lawyer Disputes Pence Aide’s Testimony
Conservative law professor John Eastman on Wednesday disputed testimony from White House aides and counsel that he and Trump were warned they were on shaky legal ground when they suggested the vice president could reject electors votes in the 2020 presidential election.
Prosecutor Seeks to Indict Hunter Biden in September
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Google to Require Disclosure for AI-Generated Election Ads
Google will soon require that all election advertisers disclose when their messages have been altered or created by AI tools.
What Else We’re Watching
Biden Looks to Woo Allies as Putin, Xi Skip G-20
Biden aims to seize on the absence of two key adversaries at this week’s G-20 leaders meeting to make fresh inroads with countries that China and Russia have previously courted.
Modi Asks Rich Nations to Soften Climate Demands
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Blinken Pledges $1 Billion More to Ukraine
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Biden Asia Czar Is Top Candidate for No. 2 US Diplomat
Biden’s Asia czar, Kurt Campbell, is the leading candidate to be nominated as the next deputy secretary of State, according to people familiar with the matter.
Biden Sends Israel a Signal With Selection of Lew as US Envoy
Biden’s choice of Jacob Lew to serve as his envoy to Israel puts a seasoned official at the center of US efforts to soothe ties with a key ally and press for a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
Texas Must Remove Mexico Border Barrier
A federal judge ordered Texas to remove a controversial floating barrier in the Rio Grande while the Biden administration pursues its lawsuit seeking a permanent ban on buoys the state installed to help prevent illegal crossings from Mexico.
US Offers Plan to Expedite Camp Lejeune Payouts
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To contact the reporters on this story: Giuseppe Macri in Washington at gmacri@bgov.com; Brandon Lee in Washington at blee@bgov.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Kayla Sharpe at ksharpe@bloombergindustry.com
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