Home AI Policy Leadership AI Legislation Tracker – United States AI Legislation in 2019

AI Legislation in 2019

by Hodan Omaar

Future Defense Artificial intelligence Technology Assessment Act (DATA) Act (H.R. 2432)

Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress on the Department of Defense’s artificial intelligence strategy. This report is to include an analysis of how DoD is using AI, a description of the data the Secretary would need to properly conduct this analysis, a plan to protect AI systems from bad actors, an analysis of the expected benefits of AI for the armed forces over the next 20 years, an analysis of the potential for AI to improve multi-domain operations across the armed forces, ethical guidelines applicable to DoD’s use of AI, and the Secretary’s plan to promote collaboration between DoD, industry, academia, and national laboratories on issues related to AI r&d, testing, acquisition, and deployment. 

Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act (S. 1471)

Defines a policy of promoting and maintaining digital engineering, including the use of AI, as a core competency of the armed forces. Directs the Department of Defense Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to appoint a Chief Digital Engineering Recruitment and Management Officer to carry out this policy, including by improving the armed forces ability to recruit, develop, and retain experts in digital engineering, developing multiple digital engineering career tracks with related competencies including data science and machine learning, and developing metrics to report on the overall capability of the armed forces to leverage digital engineering to deliver operational capabilities. 

Artificial Intelligence Initiative (AI-IA) Act (S. 1558)

Establishes a National AI Coordination Office, an AI Interagency Committee, and an AI Advisory Committee or non-government experts to develop a National Strategic Plan for AI R&D. Provides $40 million in annual funding and directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to identify metrics that can be used to evaluate AI algorithms and training data sets. Requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop educational goals for addressing issues related to AI, such as algorithmic accountability and ethical implications, including by providing $500 million to establish five Multidisciplinary Centers for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education. Provides $1.5 billion in funding and requires the Department of Energy to create an AI research program and establish five Artificial Intelligence Research Centers. The AI-IA Act is a companion bill to the GrAITR Act (H.R. 2202).

AI in Government Act (H.R. 2575)

Establishes an AI Center of Excellence within the General Services Administration to improve the federal government’s ability to adopt and deploy AI, including by providing advice about AI acquisition and use, studying the economic, policy, legal, and ethical challenges and implications of the government’s use of AI, and encouraging joint initiatives with state and local governments, industry, and other stakeholders. Requires the Office of Management and Budget to issue a memorandum to agencies detailing ways to reduce barriers to AI, best practices for mitigating unintended consequences of the use of AI, and a template for agency AI governance plans, which agencies are required to develop. Previously introduced in 2018 as the AI in Government Act (S. 3502). 

Algorithmic Accountability Act (S. 1108 / H.R. 2231)

Requires large companies that possess or control large amounts of personal data to conduct impact assessments about existing and new automated decision systems that pose a high risk of making unfair, biased, or discriminatory decisions impacting consumers, as well as of impacting privacy or security. Directs companies to address the risks found in these impact assessments, and encourages, but does not require, companies to make their impact assessments public.

Growing Artificial Intelligence Through Research (GrAITR) Act (H.R. 2202)

Directs the President to establish a “National Artificial Intelligence Initiative” to coordinate federal AI R&D activities to accelerate the development of the technology. These activities include: developing an AI workforce pipeline by expanding the number of researchers, educators, and students focusing on AI; identifying and minimizing “inappropriate” bias in AI and underlying datasets; and supporting efforts to establish metrics to evaluate AI safety, security, and reliability.

Artificial Intelligence Job Opportunities and Background Summary (AI JOBS) Act (H.R. 4829)

Directs the Secretary of Labor to produce a report on the impact of AI on the workforce. This report is to outline the specific data necessary to accurately analyze the growth and impact of AI, identify industries projects to see the most growth in AI use, analyze the education needed to develop, operate, and work alongside AI over the next 20 years, analyze which demographics will have increased career opportunities due to AI, and those that may be vulnerable to displacement due to AI, and provide recommendations to alleviate workforce displacement.

Supporting the Development of Guidelines for Ethical Development of Artificial Intelligence (H.Res 153)

Resolves that the House of Representative will support the development of guidelines for the ethical development of AI. These guidelines will be developed in consultation with diverse stakeholders and will support aims that include the transparency and explainability of AI systems, accountability and oversight for all automated decision-making, access and fairness regarding technological services and their benefits, and the safety and security of AI systems.

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