The article advocates for the establishment of a Federal Artificial Intelligence Commission, drawing parallels to the historical regulation of radio and the internet, to address the profound societal risks posed by AI, including misinformation and potential existential threats. It urges immediate congressional action and ethical oversight to safeguard the public interest, highlighting political obstacles.
The Airwaves
This section describes how the early commercialization of radio in the 1920s led to chaotic interference, prompting the US government to intervene with the Radio Act of 1927 and the Communications Act of 1934. These acts established the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) and later the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate public airwaves, ensuring order and requiring broadcasters to operate in the 'public interest, convenience or necessity'.
The Internet
Originating as a government-funded project (ARPANET), the internet was commercialized with minimal government oversight. This lack of regulation led to the widespread dissemination of misinformation and disinformation, causing significant harm to national discourse, fueling polarization, and eroding trust in public institutions. The article argues that self-regulation by dominant tech companies like Google and Meta has failed, and legal actions are insufficient, concluding that the internet should have been treated as a public asset from the start.
Artificial Intelligence
The article asserts that Artificial Intelligence, while holding great promise, also presents an even greater existential threat to society, echoing warnings from figures like Stephen Hawking. It emphasizes that AI development is a matter of public interest and requires democratic government intervention to protect the common good, not just profit motives. It proposes that Congress should designate public domain knowledge used in AI training as a public asset and create a Federal Artificial Intelligence Commission to regulate AI, ensuring its conclusions are truthful and ethical, and dismissing arguments against such oversight.
The Trump – MAGA Obstacle
This section highlights the political challenges to implementing effective AI regulation in the United States. It criticizes the current Congressional gridlock and perceived 'wrongheaded' priorities, particularly under the influence of the 'Republican theocratic party' and the Trump-MAGA movement, which it argues hinder the necessary reasoned debate and legislative action required to address AI's profound risks. The article suggests that a change in Congressional control is essential to confront these dangers responsibly.
