US senator introduces bills to control artificial intelligence

US senator Ed Markey is concerned about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) that is not properly controlled.

He is worried about several issues: the large amounts of energy and water used by data centers that support AI, secret monitoring of employees at work, unfair computer programs that make biased decisions, AI systems affecting people's judgment, and the growing gap between the rich and poor, as some individuals make huge profits from AI.

Senator Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, feels it is increasingly important for the US Congress to create rules to limit the harmful effects of AI, especially as this technology becomes a bigger part of many industries. He has already written nearly a dozen bills to address these problems.

Soon, the 79-year-old senator plans to introduce a new bill. This bill will focus on requiring federal certification for the large buildings filled with computers, known as data centers, which are essential for the AI boom. This comes as people express anger about the negative effects these centers have on the environment and electricity costs.

Markey stated that it is important to ensure these data centers do not become sources of pollution. He recently announced his new set of bills, calling it an "AI accountability agenda," which aims to reduce the power of big technology companies.

He believes that all Americans deserve protection from AI's harms and that these safeguards should not depend on where people live. Markey is running for his third full term in the Senate.

He emphasized that dealing with AI issues one by one would leave too many people unprotected. He thinks the government needs to act fast to create regulations, even though there has been very little action at the federal level since ChatGPT became popular in 2022.

A draft of Markey's bill suggests that companies wanting to build or own data centers would need approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This approval would confirm that the facilities will not negatively affect the public before they are even built.

The proposal includes having the FCC evaluate how proposed data centers might impact air and water quality, noise levels, energy costs, the stability of the electricity supply, local wildlife, and the local economy. The FCC would also need to consult with various government bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Markey's agenda also highlights specific people who have been negatively affected by AI and related technologies. These include parents whose teenage son allegedly died by suicide after being manipulated by an AI chatbot, a woman who couldn't drink her tap water due to nearby data center construction, a woman who sued after an AI system unfairly denied her housing, and a nurse who felt troubled by having to follow an AI's medical advice instead of her own professional judgment.

Other bills proposed by Markey include banning employers from using automated systems as the main tool for hiring, firing, or promoting employees. He also wants stronger rules for AI chatbot companies to stop children from forming unhealthy emotional connections with them. Developers of AI would also need to conduct thorough checks for bias and unfairness before releasing AI systems that make important decisions.

Additional proposals include creating offices within federal agencies to address bias and discrimination in AI, requiring hospitals to have ways for humans to override AI decisions, protecting workers who question AI recommendations, and making companies report the environmental impact of data centers in a standard format.

Despite slow progress in Congress regarding AI rules, Markey is hopeful that his ideas will eventually gain support from both major political parties. He believes that national solutions will eventually be put into law.

While many of his AI bills are still moving slowly through the legislative process, one bill focused on child safety has gained support. In March, the Senate approved a bill that would ban advertising aimed at children and teens online, make it easier for families to remove children's data, and set strict limits on collecting personal information from minors.

Another bill from Markey aims to limit the increasing use of surveillance technology in workplaces. He also has a proposal to ban productivity targets that he says push workers too hard and cause injuries. The senator mentioned that his conversations with workers about how closely their jobs are monitored have strengthened his belief that current labor laws have not kept pace with technological changes.

Markey explained that these discussions with workers strongly motivated his decision to introduce legislation. Labor rights are a personal issue for him. His father worked in a factory before safety regulations were established to ensure safe working conditions.

Markey shared that his father lost part of a finger in an accident at work due to a machine. He said his boss at the time expected his father to return to work quickly. Markey added that his father used another finger to express his feelings about the boss and the company, which he believes reflects how many workers in the country feel today.