Congress Skeptical as White House Prepares to Issue Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence

The Biden administration is preparing executive actions for President Biden to address artificial intelligence (AI), which has caused skepticism among Republicans in Congress about the government’s ability to handle this emerging technology.

Lawmakers from the House Oversight and Accountability Committee questioned the administration’s top AI officers about their understanding of the issue and President Biden’s level of engagement. Representative Nancy Mace expressed doubts about the administration’s grasp of AI and raised concerns about its inclusion in the cybersecurity plan.

Arati Prabhakar, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, defended President Biden’s understanding of AI, stating that he had a good grasp of the subject and had asked detailed questions about its potential harms and applications in education.

Regardless of whether Congress passes new AI legislation, the White House intends to enact new AI rules through executive action. The Office of Management and Budget is working on guidance, and the White House is developing a new National AI Strategy that aims to take a comprehensive approach.

While the Biden administration’s Democratic allies in the Senate are working on crafting an AI legislative package, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer has emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration and hopes to set an example for House lawmakers.

Congress, however, remains far from reaching a consensus on potential AI rules. After a closed-door meeting on AI with Big Tech leaders, Senator John Kennedy noted that lawmakers have yet to agree on an overarching regulatory framework.