U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bill Complimenting Recent Executive Order

With an Executive Order from the White House, United States lawmakers appear to be next in line to empower the federal government to tackle AI issues. On Thursday, November 2, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran of Kansas and Mark Warner of Virginia introduced the Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act of 2023. The bill aims to regulate the use of AI by federal agencies.

It mandates federal agencies to utilize the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) when employing AI. The bill specifies that the framework is designed to help organizations manage the risks associated with AI use, incorporating a risk management process encompassing identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risks. The framework also outlines guidelines to ensure transparency, explainability, and accountability of AI.

The Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act of 2023 would additionally necessitate the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance requiring agencies to integrate the framework into their risk management efforts. The OMB would also be obligated to establish a workforce initiative facilitating federal agencies’ access to diverse expertise. It appears that this new bill is a direct response to President Joe Biden’s Executive Order. If signed into law, the Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act of 2023 would possess more lasting power than an executive order, as an executive order could be rescinded by a future presidential administration. According to a press release from Senator Moran’s office, U.S. Representative Ted W. Lieu of California will introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the press release, Senator Moran stated, “AI has tremendous potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government, in addition to the potential positive impacts on the private sector…However, it would be naïve to ignore the risks that accompany this emerging technology, including risks related to data privacy and challenges verifying AI-generated data.”

Senator Warner adds, “It’s crucial that the federal government follow the reasonable guidelines already outlined by NIST when dealing with AI in order to capitalize on the benefits while mitigating risks.”

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