Reps. Foushee, Ross Host AI Roundtable Discussion with Senior Biden Administration Officials and Local Industry Leaders
DURHAM, NC (February 20, 2024) — Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) hosted a roundtable discussion centered around Artificial Intelligence with White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Arati Prabhakar, National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) U.S. AI Safety Institute Director Elizabeth Kelly, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Senior Advisor for Critical and Emerging Technologies Jake Taylor, and local AI industry leaders at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.
The Triangle Region of North Carolina is home to top community colleges and universities educating future researchers and innovators, and also to one of the largest research hubs in the country that is leading in developing cutting-edge technologies. The roundtable hosted by Reps. Foushee and Ross provided an opportunity for federal, state, and local leaders to discuss the necessary federal guardrails and public-private partnerships needed to support innovations and growth within the industry while ensuring safe, secure, and trustworthy development of emerging AI technologies.
“Artificial Intelligence holds the incredible potential to transform many aspects of our society, however, it can pose grave risks without clear and rigorous oversight,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). “As AI systems and technologies continue to emerge, conversations like these that include all levels of government, industry experts, and local leaders are critical to establishing the proper federal guardrails that will ensure America can safely and responsibly remain at the forefront of the global AI industry. I am thankful for the actions already taken by the Biden-Harris Administration, and as a member of the newly announced Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, I look forward to working with my colleagues to develop AI-related policy that will regulate the industry without stifling innovation and growth.”
“I am grateful for the expert insights we heard today from OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar, NIST AI Safety Institute Director Elizabeth Kelly, and NIST Senior Advisor for Critical and Emerging Technologies Jake Taylor. They confirmed the Biden administration’s steadfast commitment to harnessing AI as a powerful tool to enhance the lives of all Americans,” said Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02). “Today’s roundtable reaffirmed that we must work together – across all levels of government and sectors of our economy – to ensure that with proper regulation, AI can help us create a better and brighter future for the American people. As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I will continue working diligently with my colleagues in Congress, including Congresswoman Foushee, and all our partners in North Carolina to identify the best path forward on this critical issue.”
“President Biden has been clear: AI is the most consequential technology of our time. Used responsibly, it is a powerful tool to help us achieve our nation’s great aspirations—robust health for all, meeting the climate crisis, a competitive economy, and a peaceful world,” said Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar. “Thanks to Representatives Ross and Foushee for their leadership to get AI right. It’s going to take all of us, in every branch of government and in the private sector, to drive toward this bright future.”
“We have built a place where leading researchers, industry, and government can work together to develop standards and guidelines to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks to public safety and national security from frontier models,” said NIST U.S. AI Safety Institute Director Elizabeth Kelly.
“AI is here and in use in all aspects of our lives from healthcare, education to media,” said NC House Representative Zach Hawkins. “As its capabilities expand, it’s important to have these interdisciplinary discussions to build plans for protecting the public, understanding best practices and contemplating future impacts.”
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