AI Regulation is Looming: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts

AI Artificial Intelligence robot inside laptop

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The tech revolution has been upon us for decades, whether it was the boom in televisions, computers or cell phones. Now the latest hot topic is AI or artificial intelligence. To help you understand the market, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of developments (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). Here’s the latest forecast…

As Congress closely monitors the boom in artificial intelligence tech, lawmakers are readying to draft legislation addressing transparency, accountability, national security and other issues that new forms of AI present.

Note Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) sweeping proposal, which would require companies to allow independent experts to review and test AI ahead of a public release or update, and give users access to those results.

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Schumer said he’s been working for months with major industry players to develop his plan. He has released only a framework so far. Expect it to be refined in the coming weeks.

The latest on AI regulation from Washington

Regulating AI has broad bipartisan support, but agreement could be tough — toxic partisanship may become a stumbling block as legislative text is written. President Biden has urged Congress to act to make sure new AI products are safe.

Meanwhile, federal agencies across Washington are hard at work on AI. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released nonbinding guidelines. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is seeking public comment on how best to regulate AI and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating possible regs. And, of course, the White House put out an “AI Bill of Rights” last year with key principles.

Does spending more on tech make it safer?

How do you make sure smart-home technology both works and is secure? It often pays to spend a little more, to start.

Experts say super-cheap gadgets, commonly found online, may not work well or may lack the needed software updates to fix bugs or patch security flaws. The way they store, analyze or share personal data may not follow best practices. And customer service may be shoddy if issues arise. That’s not to say lower-cost gadgets are always to be avoided. Many products have fallen in price and will still work well.

Look for vendors with a long track record. It’s worth closely reading the terms and agreement for security and privacy policies.

This forecast first appeared in the The Kiplinger Letter. Since 1925, the Letter has helped millions of business executives and investors profit by providing reliable forecasts on business and the economy, as well as what to expect from Washington. Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe.

John Miley is a Senior Associate Editor at The Kiplinger Letter. He mainly covers AI, technology, telecom and education, but will jump on other business topics as needed. In his role, he provides timely forecasts about emerging technologies, business trends and government regulations. He also edits stories for the weekly publication and has written and edited email newsletters.

He holds a BA from Bates College and a master’s degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University, where he specialized in business reporting. An avid runner and a former decathlete, he has written about fitness and competed in triathlons.