Bustling With Tech Upgrades: AI Research Funding Bill Proposed by US Reps
Weekly Policy Summaries: October 7, 2024 Edition
In a tech-savvy move, U.S. House of Representatives AI Task Force chair Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and co-chair Ted Lieu (D-CA) have thrown their hats in the ring with the bipartisan AI Grand Challenges Act. This bold new bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a program that hands out prizes for exceptionally groundbreaking advancements in AI research, development, and commercialization. Sectors including cybersecurity, agriculture, and rural development are set to receive a tech boost from this initiative.
NSF and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have also been tasked with teaming up to establish a prize competition aimed at harnessing AI to slash the mortality rates of some of the deadliest forms of cancer.
Free Speech Snafu: Federal Judge Hits Pause on California's Deepfake Election Law
In a curious twist, a federal judge based in the Eastern District of California has temporarily halted the implementation of California's AB 2839—a freshly adopted law that prohibits the intentional dissemination of misleading deepfakes disguised as campaign ads or election communications inside the 120-day window leading up to an election. The judge's decision was rooted in fears that the law might contravene the U.S. Constitution, potentially infringing on First Amendment rights by erecting restrictions on political parody.
Interestingly, Congressman Jay Obernolte, who is the driving force behind the AI Grand Challenges Act, has shown keen interest in the AI sector in the past. In another legislative venture, he introduced the bipartisan CREATE AI Act, whose primary objective lies in broadening AI research tool access[2]. The larger context of AI regulation in the U.S. remains a hot topic, with ongoing discourse centering around a proposed moratorium on state AI laws[1][3]. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the AI Grand Challenges Act, more in-depth research, or access to specific legislative documents is highly recommended.
- The AI Grand Challenges Act, proposed by U.S. Reps Jay Obernolte and Ted Lieu, directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a program for AI research, which also includes collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reduce mortality rates from certain types of cancer.
- Beyond the AI Grand Challenges Act, Congressman Jay Obernolte has shown interest in AI regulation, as exemplified by his introduction of the bipartisan CREATE AI Act, designed to expand access to AI research tools.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of policy and legislation, ongoing discourse centers around a proposed moratorium on state AI laws, indicating a broader concern for AI regulation in the U.S.
- Beyond AI, a federal judge in the Eastern District of California has temporarily halted California's AB 2839, a law aimed at regulating deepfakes during elections, as there are concerns it might conflict with the U.S. Constitution, potentially infringing on First Amendment rights.
