Artificial intelligence regulation proves to be moving forward in the United States, at least in Connecticut, as its senate has reportedly passed a wide-ranging AI bill.
Legislation is needed to stop the harm brought by booming technology.
After a protracted debate, the bill was passed 24-12. It is the product of a year's worth of cooperation between a bipartisan group of legislators from other states attempting to stop a patchwork of laws across the nation because Congress has not yet acted, as well as two years of task force meetings held in Connecticut.
Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding claimed Connecticut senators were being hurried to vote on the most complex bill of the session, which ends on May 8.
The Republican expressed his concern that the plan could have many unforeseen repercussions that would harm the state's citizens and companies.
(Photo: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images) This illustration photograph taken in Helsinki on June 12, 2023, shows an AI (Artificial Intelligence) logo blended with four fake Twitter accounts bearing profile pictures apparently generated by Artificial Intelligence software.
In addition to opposition from Republican lawmakers, prominent Democrats in Connecticut, such as Governor Ned Lamont, have expressed worry that the bill would have unfavorable effects on a developing sector.
Former cable TV entrepreneur Lamont still worries that this is a fast-paced industry and that innovation should not be stifled.
The measure aims to target the risks of AI bias based on age, race, disability, religion, and other protected classes, providing rights for tenants, employees, and customers.
The measure mandates digital watermarks on AI-generated photos for transparency, in addition to making it illegal to disseminate so-called deepfake pornography and misleading AI-generated media in political campaigns.
It will also be necessary for some AI users to create policies and initiatives to remove the possibility of AI prejudice.
Read Also: Top Japanese Companies Demand AI Regulation: "Democracy and Social Order Could Collapse"
Competing Groups on AI Regulation
The wide-ranging Connecticut bill comes as various bills from different US states also continue to draw criticism from all fonts. There are groups and the concerned industry as a whole competing over the main parts of AI regulation.
Labor unions and consumer advocacy groups are pressuring businesses to increase transparency and provide people additional legal options when suing for AI discrimination.
While offering cautious support, the industry is resolute in its support of accountability measures. A bipartisan alliance of lawmakers from Georgia, Alaska, and Virginia has been collaborating on AI legislation in the face of congressional delay.
Proposed Bills on AI
According to a recent study, AI regulation only continues to increase.
The Voting Rights Lab, an impartial watchdog on voting rights, reports that the rapid expansion of AI has forced several governments to put protections against it in place in anticipation of future elections heavily reliant on AI.
According to the Voting Rights Lab, it monitored more than 100 bills in 39 state legislatures that contained clauses intended to restrict artificial intelligence's capacity to generate misinformation during elections.
Related Article: New Pennsylvania Bill will Require Consumer Notifications of AI-Generated Content
(Photo: Tech Times)
