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RELEASE: RO KHANNA AND BRENDA L. LAWRENCE INTRODUCE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

February 28, 2019

Congresswoman Brenda L. Lawrence and Congressman Ro Khanna today introduced a resolution supporting the development of guidelines for the ethical development of artificial intelligence (AI).

H.RES. 153 is cosponsored by Reps. Darren Soto, Daniel Lipinski, Haley Stevens, Suzan DelBene, Grace Meng, Robin Kelly and Charlie Christ, and has been endorsed by the Future of Life Institute, BSA | The Software Alliance, IBM, and Facebook.

"AI is the next phase of the digital revolution," said Congressman Ro Khanna. "The burden falls on Congress to ensure that technology is implemented with thoughtful guidance given the shifting scope of privacy protections in the digital economy. Regulation and innovation must go hand in hand."

"Artificial Intelligence has the potential to address some of the greatest challenges facing humanity, such as climate change, wealth, and income inequality," said Congresswoman Brenda L. Lawrence. "The broad societal impact of AI demands the inclusion of public opinion so that the few don't make decisions for the many. To realize the full potential of AI, we must ensure that government, industry, academia, and organizations dedicated to protecting privacy, civil rights, and liberties work together to develop AI in an ethical and transparent manner. This resolution is the first step in that process."

"This important resolution appropriately acknowledges that artificial intelligence has the potential of helping our nation, and human civilization, flourish like never before – as long as we manage to keep the technology beneficial. We strongly support its call for AI development guidelines, especially as it relates to the safety, security, and control of AI systems now and in the future," said the Future of Life Institute.

"BSA appreciates the leadership of Representatives Lawrence and Khanna in introducing an important Resolution on the ethical development of AI. AI will thrive only if people can trust that it's designed and being used in a way that respects data privacy, preserves accountability, and empowers users. Ensuring that these ethical considerations are built into the fabric of AI is a top priority for the industry," said Aaron Cooper, Vice President of Global Policy, BSA | The Software Alliance.

"We support this resolution, which sets the right priorities for policymakers to consider in the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence. At IBM, we believe the purpose of AI is to help humans make better decisions, not to replace human intelligence. AI must be transparent and explainable if the public is to trust such systems with helping to make important decisions. We look forward to working with elected leaders and other stakeholders to promote and guide the use of AI in ways that extend human capability," said Christopher A. Padilla, Vice President, IBM Government and Regulatory Affairs.

"The opportunity for people and communities around the world to benefit from artificial intelligence is tremendous. But as AI technology increasingly impacts people and society, the academics, industry stakeholders and developers driving these advances need to do so responsibly and ensure AI treats people fairly, protects their safety, respects their privacy, and works for them. Facebook is committed to the thoughtful development and use of artificial intelligence and we proudly support H. RES. 153," said Kevin Martin, VP of US Public Policy, Facebook.

The resolution supports the development of guidelines for the ethical development of artificial intelligence (AI), in consultation with diverse stakeholders, and consonant with the following aims of:

  1. Engagement among industry, government, academia, and civil society.
  2. Transparency and explainability of AI systems, processes, and implications.
  3. Helping to empower women and underrepresented or marginalized populations.
  4. Information privacy and the protection of one's personal data.
  5. Career opportunity to find meaningful work and maintain a livelihood.
  6. Accountability and oversight for all automated decisionmaking.
  7. Lifelong learning in STEM, social sciences, and humanities.
  8. Access and fairness regarding technological services and benefits.
  9. Interdisciplinary research about AI that is safe and beneficial.
  10. Safety, security, and control of AI systems now and in the future.

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About the Office

Congressman Khanna represents the 17th District of California, which covers communities in Silicon Valley. Visit his website at khanna.house.gov. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @RepRoKhanna.