During the first-ever bipartisan Senate AI forum, Tesla CEO Elon Musk emphasized the need for regulation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Musk stated that it is important for there to be a "referee" when it comes to regulating AI, similar to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or Federal Communications Commission (FCC). However, he also acknowledged that Congress is currently not prepared to take on this role.
Musk's comments came after a meeting with other tech leaders, including Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Bill Gates of Microsoft. Senator Mike Rounds and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer co-moderated the forum.
According to Musk, during the meeting, Schumer asked everyone in the room if they were in favor of AI regulation, and almost everyone raised their hands. Musk considered this a positive sign. He also mentioned that he believes there will likely be an independent AI regulatory agency in the future.
However, Musk also noted that Congress is not yet ready to sufficiently regulate AI. He explained that the process of creating regulations starts with insight and understanding of the situation, followed by proposed rulemaking, objections from industry, and ultimately a consensus on rulemaking that becomes law or regulation.
Musk emphasized the importance of having a referee in AI to ensure that players obey the rules and play fairly, similar to how referees are present in sports games. He stated that there is a strong consensus among tech leaders that AI regulation is in the best interest of the people.
While Musk expressed optimism about the possibility of AI regulation, he also acknowledged the risks associated with AI. He mentioned that there is a chance, although low, that AI could pose a threat to humanity.
In conclusion, Musk's statements at the Senate AI forum highlighted the need for regulation in AI, but he also recognized that Congress is not yet prepared to take on this role. He emphasized the importance of having a referee in AI and expressed optimism about the future creation of an independent AI regulatory agency.