AI Industry Faces Less State Control: Tax Bill Amendment Limits Regulations
So, here's the deal: it seems like the AI industry might be getting a bit of a free pass, thanks to some political maneuvering in the US. I'm talking about a potential amendment to a tax bill that could stop individual states from regulating AI companies for five whole years.
Now, I know what you're thinking: isn't regulation a good thing? Especially when it comes to AI, which is advancing at breakneck speed? Well, a lot of people seem to think so. But some senators are pushing for this amendment, which they say will foster innovation and prevent a patchwork of state laws that could stifle the AI industry.
However, there's a catch. To access some federal funding for AI infrastructure, states will have to play nice and cooperate. It seems a bit like holding funding hostage, doesn't it?
Senator Blackburn, for example, made a deal that exempts her state's ELVIS Act, which protects musicians from AI using their voices and likeness without permission. Good for musicians, but what about everyone else?
And while the ban was reduced from ten to five years, is five years of largely unregulated AI really a risk we want to take? I'm not so sure. Even with exemptions for child safety and rights of publicity, there's still room for potential misuse.
It's not just me and a few concerned citizens who are worried. A group of Republican governors even sent a letter expressing their concerns, arguing that the amendment could undo the work states have already done to protect people from AI misuse.
So, what does this all mean? It's hard to say for sure, but it looks like we're heading towards a future where the AI industry has significant leeway, at least for the next few years. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, only time will tell. But I think it's something we should all be paying attention to.
Source: Engadget