US Congress Pushes to Establish Government Agency for 'Strengthening AI Leadership and Checking China'

The U.S. Congress is pushing for the establishment of a government agency to strengthen American leadership in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and to counter China.

On the 8th (local time), according to NBC News and others, Democratic Senator Michael Bennet and Republican Senator Todd Young are expected to submit the "Global Technology Leadership Act," which contains such provisions.

The bill includes establishing an office that analyzes the competitiveness of the U.S. compared to China and others in key areas such as AI. This office will be composed of experts from intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, and other relevant organizations, and will evaluate government intelligence and private commercial data to assess national competitiveness.

Senator Bennet explained, "There is no one in the federal government or within the U.S. who can tell us where America stands compared to China in core technologies like AI," adding, "The core of the bill is to evaluate America's technological leadership compared to other countries and to inform policymakers so they can respond appropriately."

Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Party announced plans to hold briefings for lawmakers on AI capabilities, development competition, and the use of AI in the U.S. Department of Defense and security agencies.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

The U.S. political sphere has shown intense interest in AI since the global AI boom following the release of ChatGPT last November.

Congress is discussing both AI development plans and regulatory measures simultaneously. Last month, they held the first AI hearing by inviting Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, to Congress.

CNN reported that amid growing calls for AI regulation due to the impact of ChatGPT, the Senate has yet to reach an agreement on how to handle AI-related legislation.