South Iowa News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Marc Molinaro (NY-19) have introduced the bipartisan Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act, which aims to protect Americans' data while leveraging the benefits of new technology. The bill would require the federal government to follow established guidelines when utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure the safety and transparency of Americans' data.

"Technological advancement is good for society, and if done right, can make the government more effective," said Rep. Nunn. "As the federal government implements AI towards this end, we must ensure that Americans' data is safe and the government is transparent about what it is doing. This bipartisan bill will ensure we're doing everything we can to protect the American people while leveraging the full capabilities of new technology."

The use of AI has been proven to make lives easier and contribute to economic growth. A report published by Goldman Sachs suggests that generative AI could raise global GDP by 7 percent over a 10-year period. However, with the rapid development of AI, it is crucial to have a coordinated government response to ensure responsible usage and protection of individuals.

"The AI Risk Management Framework developed by NIST is a great starting point for agencies and vendors to analyze the risks associated with AI and to mitigate those risks," said Rep. Lieu. "These guidelines have already been used by a number of public and private sector organizations, and there is no reason why they shouldn't be applied to the federal government as well. I'm grateful to my House and Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their partnership in this effort to promote safe AI use within the federal government and to allow the United States to continue to lead on AI."

While the federal government can benefit from the implementation of AI in terms of efficiency, productivity, and security, there are inherent risks associated with its usage. These risks include data privacy, personal information security, transparency in decision making, and incidental use of unverified data.

"As the federal government expands its use of innovative AI technology, it becomes increasingly important to safeguard against AI's potential risks," said Rep. Beyer. "By ensuring that federal agencies have the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of AI, we can ensure both the trustworthiness and effectiveness of AI systems used by the government and encourage other organizations and companies to adopt similar standards. This bill lays the foundation for harnessing the power of AI for the benefit of the American people, while upholding the highest standards of accountability and transparency."

To address these risks, Congress previously directed the national Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop an AI Risk Management Framework. This framework, released earlier this year, provides guidelines for private and public sector organizations to ensure the trustworthy usage of AI systems. However, federal agencies are currently not required to adopt this framework.

"While we're only beginning to realize the full power of AI – we have to recognize it is here and being widely utilized," said Rep. Molinaro. "Congress must provide guidance to operate AI safely and close cybersecurity gaps. Congress took an important step forward by directing NIST to develop an AI Risk Management Framework. Our bipartisan bill will require federal agencies to adopt this framework to help unleash the potential of AI while keeping federal assets secure."

The bipartisan Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act would mandate federal agencies and vendors to incorporate the NIST framework into their AI management efforts in order to mitigate the risks associated with AI technology. Microsoft, a key player in AI development, expressed support for the bill, stating, "Implementing a widely recognized risk management framework by the U.S. Government can harness the power of AI and advance this technology safely."

The bipartisan Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act has also been introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (KS) and Mark Warner (VA). The text of the bill can be found here.