Illinois lawmakers debate new AI guardrails
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Illinois lawmakers are pushing for stronger guardrails around AI, but opponents fear that regulation could stifle progress.
Why it matters: The Legislature is currently debating several bills focused on the technology, including one calling on companies to prioritize user safety and another that would hold them liable for any potential harm.
The latest: Lawmakers and tech industry experts testified this week on the Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act, which would require AI developers to publish a child protection plan and make companies subject to civil penalties if they violate the law.
Context: Rep. Daniel Didech stressed the need for third-party regulation, pointing to several incidents in recent years where AI users died by suicide after communicating with chatbots.
What they're saying: "We are founded on a particular belief that AI may become one of the most consequential technologies in human history, and that the companies building the most powerful systems have an obligation to do so safely," James Hartmann of Anthropic told lawmakers.
- As tech inevitably outpaces legislation, Scott Wisor of Secure AI Project recommended giving the Attorney General the power to adapt the laws as necessary. "We're on an exponential curve … basically every 100 to 210 days, the capabilities of AI models doubles," Wisor testified.
The other side: Industry groups warn that a patchwork of state regulations could hurt startups.
- "Chatbots that interact with minors need meaningful protections. We're not here to say don't regulate," Zack Kahn of American Innovators Network said. "We're here to say that a patchwork of state-by-state standards won't slow down Big Tech; however, it will kill the startups who are trying to out-innovate them."
The hearing also centered on a bill that would create consumer protections around chatbots similar to those for other products.
- Opponents argue that traditional product liability — designed for fixed, physical goods — is a poor fit.
- "AI-enabled chatbots are dynamic digital services … that can vary from interaction to interaction," Aden Hizkias of the Chamber of Progress wrote to lawmakers.
State of play: Illinois does have AI laws on the books now, including the ban of AI in psychotherapy, except as administrative support for licensed therapists, and requirements for employers to inform applicants of any AI use during job interviews.
Meanwhile, on the national level, Democrats are at odds with how to talk about AI to constituents, Politico reports.
- Some in the party are focusing solely on the cost of data centers rather than other potential threats, like the ones Illinois is confronting with AI.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Ayuda disponible en español.