South Iowa News

U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn and Jim Himes have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing potential threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The proposed Artificial Intelligence Practices, Logistics, Actions, and Necessities Act (AI PLAN Act) seeks to develop a strategy to protect national security, financial markets, and sensitive data from AI misuse.

"Artificial intelligence holds the potential to rapidly create new opportunities and technological advancements to move our society forward. There is also a ton of risk that our adversaries – like the Chinese Communist Party, North Korea, Russia, and Iran – will use it to generate misinformation, commit fraud, and perpetrate crimes," said Rep. Nunn. "Our adversaries are only continuing to invest in AI technology, so America must develop a plan that supports innovation while protecting American businesses, markets, and families."

The legislation highlights concerns about state-backed actors using AI for malicious purposes such as misleading Americans or coercing them into surrendering their data. China’s DeepSeek AI model is cited as an example of efforts to collect data from unsuspecting individuals. In the financial sector, AI is projected to generate $15 trillion in new wealth over the next decade; thus, there is a need for safeguards against market manipulation and data theft.

"The US Government is often slow off the mark in technological development, but with the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence it’s more important than ever that we keep pace with our adversaries," said Rep. Himes. "The AI PLAN Act is an important step towards ensuring that our Administration is equipped to counter threats to our markets and protect Americans from financial crimes. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Nunn in leading this important legislation."

The act mandates that the Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security devise a plan to counteract harmful uses of AI.