WA leaders calling for new AI regulations

OLYMPIA, Wash. – There’s a push to regulate artificial intelligence from Washington’s U.S. senators, who are racing to get ahead of a rapidly evolving industry.

Senator Patty Murray is meeting with Washington state leaders and academics in Olympia on Thursday afternoon, her second such meeting in just a few months.

WA’s AI Task Force pushes for AI regulation

Dig deeper:

This comes after the state’s AI task force issued its final recommendations. One of them being that tech companies should disclose their strategies for mitigating risk, and another dictating the use of AI companion chatbots, both of which were signed into law seven months ago and take effect in 2027.

Lawmakers say these laws are aimed at protecting consumers, especially minors, who they say are developing troubling attachments to these chatbots.

Murray is scheduled to hold another meeting on AI in Vancouver, Washington on Friday, alongside Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden. The two are planning legislative action on the technology’s alleged role in delaying and denying medicare claims.

WA senators lockstep on AI rules

The other side:

Murray’s congressional counterpart, Senator Maria Cantwell, is pushing for uniform rules at the national level.

She put out her regulatory framework details yesterday, saying we face “catastrophic risks.”

Cantwell says there need to be regulations enforced that focus on:

An example of the last criteria requires companies to remind users they’re chatting with a bot — not a human — once every three hours.

Cantwell’s proposal calls for close partnership with private industry, industry oversight and strong protections for children and workers.

Lawmakers still debating AI

What’s next:

Washington lawmakers are continuing their blitz, with several bills still being debated in the Legislature.

At the same time, there are arguments at the national level over whether states even have the authority to do this on their own.

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