A bipartisan group of four senators, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, yesterday called on Congress to spend at least $32 billion over the next three years to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) research and development and remain ahead of China in this sector.

This proposal signifies a substantial effort by the United States government to regulate and promote AI development. The roadmap was introduced just six days after legislators unveiled a bipartisan bill to aid the Biden administration in imposing export controls on top AI models created in the country.

The Importance of AI Investments

After months of meetings with industry experts and AI critics, the bipartisan working group identified the importance of AI investments to keep the U.S. competitive with its rivals abroad and improve Americans' quality of life.

They highlighted AI's potential to support technology that could help cure some cancers or chronic illnesses. These investments are crucial for maintaining the country's technological edge.

A Glimpse into Future Legislation

While this roadmap doesn't constitute a concrete bill or policy proposal, it provides a glimpse into the scope and magnitude of what lawmakers and relevant parties envision for future AI legislation.

However, Reuters wrote, "The roadmap could help the U.S. address mounting worries about China's advances in AI. Washington fears Beijing could use it to meddle in other countries' elections, create bioweapons, or launch muscular cyberattacks."

The senators, including Republicans Mike Rounds, Todd Young and Democrat Martin Heinrich, warned that China is "going to invest $50 billion, and we're going to invest in nothing; they'll inevitably get ahead of us. So that's why even these investments are so important," Schumer said, according to the UK-based news agency.

"This is a time in which the dollars related to this particular investment will pay dividends to the taxpayers of this country long term," Rounds said. "China now spends probably about ten times more than we do on AI development. They are in a hurry."

The AI budget proposal sets the stage for more comprehensive and detailed policies. The senators' proposal also calls for enforcing existing AI laws, addressing any gaps or unintended harmful bias, and prioritizing the development of testing standards to understand potential AI harms.

Transparency and Workforce Impact

The senatorial group recommended new requirements for transparency as artificial intelligence products are rolled out.

They also emphasized the need for studies into AI's potential impact on jobs and the U.S. workforce. These measures ensure that AI development proceeds responsibly and ethically, minimizing negative consequences.

Global AI Regulation Landscape

The AI Working Group is not pioneering the effort to regulate the rapid progress of generative AI (genAI) and general AI development and adoption.

In February, NIST formed the AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC), which brought together over 200 organizations to establish safety guidelines for AI systems.

The senators are acting on information that the U.S. lags behind other countries when it comes to AI, including the European Union, which has taken the lead in regulating artificial intelligence.

In March, the EU introduced a wide-ranging new AI law governing, putting pressure on the U.S. to catch up.