U.S. Senators Discuss Requirement for AI Companies to Fulfill Duty of Care

According to a report by Reuters, U.S. Senate negotiators are discussing legislation that would require artificial intelligence companies to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable precautions to prevent their tools from causing harm. The proposal aims to grant the U.S. Secretary of Commerce the authority to require developers to provide proof of reasonable steps taken to prevent harm, referred to as "duty of care," and to authorize the dispatch of government auditors to test relevant products. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what constitutes "reasonable," and the related legislation is still under discussion.

Even if Congress passes the measure, its prospects of becoming law still face significant resistance. U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that existing authorities are sufficient to regulate and prosecute technology companies, suggesting that he would not sign a bill that sets new rules for artificial intelligence. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is involved in the negotiations, are discussing the proposal. Thune told reporters on Monday that Congress could set safeguards against more significant threats without compromising the U.S.'s leading position in the artificial intelligence race.

Klobuchar stated in a statement that she is continuing to push for bipartisan legislation to oversee the greatest risks posed by artificial intelligence models, including requiring developers to work with government experts to validate and test models to ensure safety. Senior Democratic member of the Commerce Committee Maria Cantwell is also involved in the discussions. Reuters reported on Friday that negotiators are also discussing the possibility that if the government determines that certain artificial intelligence models are unsafe and wishes to prevent their release, it could be brought to federal court, where companies could challenge that decision. The portion of the measure involving federal courts would also prevent states from enforcing their own laws regarding specific risks associated with artificial intelligence models.