Young, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Raise Awareness, Boost Public Trust in Artificial Intelligence

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act, legislation to help raise awareness and boost public trust in artificial intelligence (AI). The legislation would require the Secretary of Commerce to carry out a public awareness and education campaign to provide information regarding the benefits of, risks relating to, and the prevalence of AI in the daily lives of individuals in the United States.

“With the rapid increase of AI in our society, it is important that individuals can both clearly recognize the technology and understand how to maximize the use of it in their daily lives. The Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act is an important step in ensuring all Americans can benefit from the opportunities created by AI,” said Senator Young.

“As AI tools and content become increasingly common, it’s essential that the public is aware of the risks and benefits associated with them,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will direct the Commerce Department to educate the public about how best to take advantage of these tools while staying vigilant to AI-enabled scams and fraud.”

Specifically, the Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act would ensure the campaign focuses on providing information relating to:

• The rights of an individual under law with respect to artificial intelligence.
• Best practices for detecting and differentiating AI-generated media, including media commonly referred to as “deepfakes” and content created by the programs commonly referred to as ‘‘chatbots.’’
• The prevalence of AI in the daily lives of individuals, including both commercial and personal applications.
• Workforce opportunities, including opportunities to work in the federal government, for individuals with experience in the development, deployment, and use of AI.
• Regional and economic differences that impact AI.
• Practical applications for small business owners.

The legislation requires a report from the Secretary no later than one year after initiating the campaign on its effectiveness.

Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) are also original co-leads.

“America has the opportunity to embrace artificial intelligence and all of the benefits it can bring to numerous industries – health care, business and national security to name a few,” said Senator Rounds. “Consumer literacy and education is a critical piece of keeping the United States ahead of the curve on artificial intelligence development and adoption. Our legislation will help consumers learn the opportunities and risks associated with the use of AI in their daily lives.”

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

The legislation builds on Senator Young’s efforts to maintain U.S. leadership in innovation, promote safety and accountability, and ensure all Americans benefit from the opportunities created by AI. Last year, Young and fellow members of the Senate AI Working Group released a roadmap for AI policy in the U.S. Senate to inform consideration of bipartisan legislation, including the Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act, which was originally introduced last year. 

Full text of the legislation can be found here.