AI Regulation Push Gains Steam Ahead of Midterms
Regulatory attorney Marissa Serafino and Congressional Investigations attorney Ashley Joyner Chavous were quoted in a CFO Dive article about the potential for federal artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and possible rulemaking scenarios following the midterm elections. AI has become a common talking point on the campaign trail as voters express concerns about the emerging technology's risks, industry leaders call for a slowdown in development and high-profile incidents involving rogue AI agents get picked up by media outlets. Despite the growing attention in this space, however, Marisa said the likelihood of federal legislation remains low because lawmakers cannot agree on basic points such as how far regulation should go or what department should be tasked with enforcement.
"[Congress] has more appetite than ever to address AI safety, but there is still no consensus on what a federal framework should look like or which agency should enforce it," she explained.
Professionals interviewed by CFO Dive predicted a change in control of Congress would push a bill toward enactment, but Ashley cautioned that regardless of who holds the majority on Capitol Hill, lawmakers could turn to congressional investigations, hearings and other oversight tools to increase pressure on AI developers and operators.
"Democrats could use their oversight authority to demand documents, call executives to testify, and examine how companies are developing and deploying AI," she highlighted.