Sen. Mark Kelly: Americans worried about affordability, not AI race
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Kelly speaks at a news conference Dec. 1. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) says average Americans are too concerned about affordability and other issues to care much about the promise of AI.
Why it matters: Kelly represents a faction of Democrats who don't want to be the anti-AI party, but think that Republicans have gone too far in pushing for a no-rules regulatory environment and have allowed for companies to grow with little oversight.
- Progressive outside groups are urging Democrats to be clearer about AI's connection to affordability, as Axios previously reported.
What they're saying: "We want AI to be successful, and we want our AI infrastructure to be adopted by other countries," Kelly said in an interview on Wednesday with Axios at an event held by Responsible Innovation Labs.
- Kelly's "AI for America" roadmap released last year focused partly on having AI companies help fund job placement and retraining programs.
Yes, but: The senator said he doesn't think the AI race with China is something most voters have top of mind, and solving affordability needs to come first.
- "I don't think that message is resonating, because right now, people are dealing with rising costs ... and we have a president that is not focused on the issues that matter to the American people."
- "You can tell somebody, 'In the future, AI is going to solve all these medical problems.' But when your kid can't play soccer because you don't have the money, that's your problem."
- There's a "ways to go" before AI is a more pertinent election issue, Kelly said. He noted that data centers are likely the most tangible issue for voters, but it's not one of the "top three things."
On Microsoft's announcement this week that it would be paying its share of electricity bills and minimizing water use around data centers, Kelly referenced the Tucson City Council rejecting the buildout of a major data center last year:
- "I think these companies are realizing they're going to have to chip in."
On Trump's executive order targeting state AI laws, Kelly said that he would ask Trump, "If you don't want the states to do it, why aren't you doing something about it?"
- "He could work with me on legislation as part of my roadmap to get a set of rules passed that would protect all 50 states."
- "But he's not doing that, because he is on the side of CEOs and the wealthiest Americans."
What's next: Kelly said he's hopeful his "AI for America" plan will turn into a series of bills this year.
