– Hawaii Sen. Chris Lee enlists AI assistance for legislative drafting.
– The AI-written bill sheds light on the need for nuanced understanding of AI.
– Federal and state legislators struggle with defining AI and its implications.
– The incident underscores the twin challenges of understanding and controlling AI.
AI Joins the Legislature?
In a rather unconventional move, Hawaii State Sen. Chris Lee decided to turn to artificial intelligence, or more specifically, ChatGPT, for legislative drafting assistance. This AI-powered system is designed to follow instructions and participate in dialogues, offering Lee a cutting edge companion in crafting new laws.
Defining AI: A Legislative Dilemma
However, the AI-authored bill raises as many questions as it attempts to answer. Primarily, it underscores the legislative challenge of accurately defining AI and its potential implications. Although we have come a long way in AI technology, the understanding of AI by the legislature, federally and statewide, seems to be lagging behind.
The lack of a clear, legislatively approved definition for AI is not just a Missouri issue; it’s a nationwide struggle. Despite the increasing integration of AI into daily life, many legislatures remain unclear on what precisely constitutes AI and its risk and benefits.
The Twin Challenges: Understanding AI & Control
This unique incident emphasizes a double-edged challenge: understanding AI and maintaining control over its evolution. Several legislative bodies are trying to address these issues, but a broad understanding of what AI can and cannot do, its potential benefits, and associated risks are still pending.
The Breezy Take
The enlistment of AI in legislative drafting by Sen. Chris Lee turned heads by bringing AI’s ambiguous status into sharp focus. While AI has integrated itself seamlessly into diverse fields, our legal understanding and controls over it remain murky at best. AI is transforming the world, but the world, especially the legal one, has yet to fully catch up. Here’s hoping Missouri, along with the rest of the nation, can bridge the gap soon.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/09/what-is-artificial-intelligence-legislators-are-still-looking-for-a-definition/