Bipartisan AI Bill Targets Deepfakes, Protects Whistleblowers

A new artificial intelligence bill, reported first by CNBC, would crack down on deepfake and non-consensual images and make it easier for whistleblowers to report AI-related concerns. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., who lead a bipartisan House Task Force on AI with Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif. The bill builds off of recommendations in the task force's report. Lieu called the bill "a step forward" in an interview with CNBC. "It is not designed to be controversial," he said. "It is based on bipartisan legislation that other members have introduced, as well as the recommendations of the bipartisan House AI Task Force. So we're trying to do something this term right now with this bill." Lieu's bill avoids some of the more thorny issues surrounding AI, including whether a federal standard should be established to preempt state AI laws and whether testing requirements are needed for AI systems used in places like critical infrastructure and education. The wide-ranging bill includes provisions protecting whistleblower who report AI safety risks or violations, requiring the U.S. to participate in international organizations that develop technical standards for AI and would establish a prize competition for groundbreaking AI research and development, While Lieu's bill has Obernolte's backing, the Republican is working on his own AI package that he expects to release later this year. Like Lieu's bill, Obernolte's will build off of the work of the bipartisan task force.