OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is set to testify before Congress next Tuesday, as lawmakers increasingly scrutinize the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence, according to a Senate Judiciary subcommittee. During Tuesday’s hearing, lawmakers will question Altman for the first time since OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, took the world by storm late last year.
The groundbreaking generative AI tool has led to a wave of new investment in AI, prompting a scramble among US policymakers who have called for guardrails and regulation amid fears of AI’s misuse.
Also testifying Tuesday will be Christina Montgomery, IBM’s vice president and chief privacy and trust officer, as well as Gary Marcus, a former New York University professor and a self-described critic of AI “hype.”
“Artificial intelligence urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls,” said Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Senate panel on privacy and technology. “This hearing begins our Subcommittee’s work in overseeing and illuminating AI’s advanced algorithms and powerful technology.”
He added: “I look forward to working with my colleagues as we explore sensible standards and principles to help us navigate this uncharted territory.”
The hearing comes as AI has become an increasingly contentious topic in Washington, with lawmakers and regulators weighing in on everything from facial recognition technology to autonomous vehicles. Some experts have warned that the technology could be used to perpetuate bias, automate discrimination, or even facilitate mass surveillance.
Altman is likely to face questions about OpenAI’s research agenda and its approach to ethical concerns. The organization, which was founded by a group of prominent Silicon Valley figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham, has said it aims to “ensure that artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity.”
But critics have accused OpenAI of being overly secretive and of promoting a “fearful narrative” around AI that could stifle innovation. Altman has defended the organization’s approach, arguing that it is necessary to be cautious when dealing with such powerful technology.
“AI has the potential to be the most powerful technology ever created, and it is going to be increasingly important to society,” he wrote in a blog post last year. “We think it’s critical that researchers and engineers around the world be able to work together to build safe and beneficial AI systems.”
The hearing will be closely watched by industry insiders and advocates, who are eager to see how Congress plans to regulate the fast-moving AI sector. Some experts have called for a more proactive approach, including the creation of an independent agency to oversee the development and deployment of AI.
Whatever the outcome, the hearing is likely to be a key moment in the ongoing debate over the future of AI and its impact on society. As Altman and other experts testify before Congress, lawmakers will be grappling with how best to balance the technology’s enormous potential with its many risks and challenges.