Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Tuesday about the potential risks and benefits of artificial intelligence. Altman, who is making his first appearance before Congress, said that he believes AI has the potential to “solve some of the world’s biggest problems,” but that it is important to “be thoughtful about how we develop and use this technology.”
Altman outlined a number of potential risks associated with AI, including the misuse of AI for malicious purposes, the potential for AI to create new forms of bias, and the potential for AI to lead to job displacement. He also said that it is important to ensure that AI is developed in a way that is ethical and accountable.
Altman called on Congress to take a leadership role in developing policies to ensure that AI is used for good. He said that Congress should “create a framework for responsible AI development” and “invest in research and development to ensure that the US remains at the forefront of AI.”
Altman’s testimony comes as Congress is considering a number of bills that would regulate AI. The House of Representatives passed a bill in February that would create a national commission to study the risks and benefits of AI. The Senate is considering a similar bill.
It is unclear whether Congress will be able to pass legislation regulating AI this year. However, Altman’s testimony is likely to play a role in the debate over AI regulation.
In addition to Altman, the Senate committee also heard testimony from a number of other experts on AI, including:
- Fei-Fei Li, a computer science professor at Stanford University
- Oren Etzioni, the CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence
- Stuart Russell, a computer science professor at the University of California, Berkeley
The committee is expected to hold additional hearings on AI in the coming months.
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