It’s Time We Regulate Artificial Intelligence Before It Becomes Dangerous.
Written by William Pratt
What if the information you type into an AI chatbot today could be seen by someone else tomorrow? In recent years, AI usage has become increasingly popular around the world, especially in the United States. According to the PEW research center, nearly 50% of adults claimed that they have heard a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is a vast jump from just a few years ago, where in 2022, only 26% of U.S adults claimed they have heard a lot about AI. AI has become a resource for millions that gives fast and typically reliable information. However, it doesn’t come without a cost. With AI, there comes various data concerns that many people don’t even realize, and there should be pressure on Congress to make laws to keep Americans safe.
A major reason this needs to be mandated is data leakage. Data leakage is where sensitive information is accessed by unauthorized parties. One-third of adults say they interact with AI at least several times a day, and ChatGPT, one of the most common AI tools, has experienced data leakage in the past. For example, in 2023, ChatGPT had a bug that caused a "significant issue" and some users were able to see the titles of others' conversation history. Although AI companies claim to have developed past these problems in recent years, there still remains a possibility of data leakage happening again. With more and more AI companies coming into the market, and becoming more prevalent amongst everyday Americans, there needs to be rules and regulations set in place by congress.
While other countries have banned AI because of this, like Italy and Syria, the U.S. is expanding it and taking away regulations. With Trump's recent executive order regarding artificial intelligence, it pushes back on state regulations, giving the federal government opportunities to challenge laws on AI made by states in court. The executive order states, “United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation.” While this may help businesses grow, it hurts everyday Americans by intimidating states and making them cautious about passing laws that limit AI and protect sensitive data.This ultimately hurts consumers, as it risks millions of Americans' privacy.
For Congress, there are numerous ways to solve the dangers of AI for the common consumer. One idea is a potential mandate on labeling AI generated content. It has been increasingly used for healthcare, education, transportation, law and many other areas that people don’t even realize. These areas pose numerous risks for people because of how sensitive the information can be. Providing a clear header that states that something is AI will allow users to be cautious of the information they put into the machine. Additionally, another thing Congress could do is implement a uniform regulation. In doing so, this regulation could require certain protocols on how AI companies collect user data as well as requiring opt-in consent for sensitive data and establishing penalties for data leakage. Doing all of these things would give users protection no matter where they are.
While these are only a few ideas, something needs to be done. Millions of people are at risk of sensitive data being released, and if nothing is done about it, it could lead to major problems. For example, medical records, financial details, and personal conversations could get leaked through these AI systems. Data leaks like these can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and misuse of personal information. If Congress fails to act now, the rapid growth of AI could put Americans’ privacy and security at even greater risk.
