WASHINGTON – Aaron Cooper, Senior Vice President of Global Policy at BSA | The Software Alliance, issued the following statement regarding the expected consideration of several bills related to artificial intelligence (AI) policy before the Senate Commerce Committee:

“BSA appreciates members of the US Senate for their work to advance legislation intended to build trust in artificial intelligence (AI) and build the conditions for its widespread adoption.

This week’s planned markup before the Senate Commerce Committee is noteworthy for its consideration of a series of legislative proposals explicitly related to AI. It builds upon the work of the bipartisan Senate Working Group on AI and seeks to translate learning into action.

There are commonsense and bipartisan opportunities for Congress to act on AI policy, particularly those bills that would spur AI research and development through the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR), and legislation to codify by law the work of the AI Safety Institute. Other legislation that may be considered rightfully focuses on guarding against high-risk uses of AI; that can help to inform future legislative efforts in this space.

BSA continues to urge Congress to pass legislation requiring impact assessments for high-risk uses of AI and establishing risk management programs. This workable approach generally aligns with the emerging policy consensus for how to best mitigate risks of AI, and national technology policies in the United States will provide clarity for companies developing and using AI.”