AZ Sen. Mark Kelly cosponsors bill to raise awareness and increase public trust about AI

(The Center Square) - U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to raise awareness and increase public trust in artificial intelligence.

The Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act is from U.S. Sens. Todd Young, R-Idaho, and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. It requires the commerce secretary to operate a campaign about the benefits and risks of AI. The campaign would also educate Americans on how much AI is involved in their daily lives.

Most Americans use something featuring AI, but a Gallup study this year found 64% of Americans do not realize that AI was involved.

“As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in our lives, it’s critical for consumers to learn about the opportunities and risks that come with using these technologies,” Kelly said in a press release. “Our bipartisan bill embraces innovation by giving Americans the tools to use AI technologies safely and responsibly.”

The press release said the Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act will specifically ensure the commerce secretary’s campaign focuses on providing information that relates to things such as “the rights of an individual under law with respect to AI,” job opportunities involving AI, how AI would benefit small businesses and regional differences that impact AI.

The legislation also requires the commerce secretary to file a report no later than one year after beginning the campaign to brief legislators about its effectiveness.

This is not the first time that the Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act has been introduced. Young and Schatz announced the measure in June. Since then, AI has become an even bigger household name. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in April that pushes for more coal production to power things such as “new artificial intelligence data.”

Endorsers of the Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act include the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Technology Security Coalition and Go Daddy, the world’s largest domain registrar.