U.S. should err on the side of innovation in AI regulation, U.S. Rep. Arrington says

The United States should be cautious not to over-regulate artificial intelligence companies, U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, said Saturday at the Texas Tribune Festival, arguing that the country has too much at stake with health and safety in the race against China to develop the technology.

“Erring on the side of innovation and winning the race is the right initial posture,” Arrington said.

Chris Hyams, the former CEO of Indeed, said the question should not be whether to regulate development of such a powerful technology but how to regulate it. He characterized Arrington’s argument about needing to beat China as a false one.

China has tight regulation around artificial intelligence use, and much of that country’s innovations are based on U.S. models, Hyams said. That’s because the U.S. has much more compute power, he added.

So if the U.S. slows down artificial intelligence development, China’s progress will slow too, like a motor boat pulling a water skier behind it, Hyams said.

A lack of clear technology regulation stifles companies, Hyams said. And voters support stricter protections, too.

“The time has come that we look around, and we say, ‘What do we need to do? What does the United States need to do to protect our residents?’” said Sherri Greenberg, assistant dean at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. She added, “We do have to work globally.”

Still, Arrington characterized a United Nations-style governance of AI as “disastrous” because he does not trust China.

“Zero risk means we lose,” Arrington said. “If that’s the game we’re going to play, we will lose. Managing the risk responsibly, that’s right on. Winning the race, I think, is an imperative.”

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin has been a major financial supporter of The Texas Tribune. Chris Hyams and Sherri Greenberg have been financial supporters within the past five years. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in our journalism. Find a complete list of them and more information about our financial and disclosure policies here.