Presidential Candidates Disappointingly Quiet on AI

According to AIPI, 86% of American voters believe it is "likely" that AI could accidentally cause a catastrophic event, and 82% of voters agree that tech company executives can't be trusted to self-regulate the AI industry. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that Americans were more than twice as likely to say the increased use of AI in daily life does more harm than good. Unfortunately, our Presidential candidates haven't spoken clearly about what -- if anything -- they would do to fix this problem.

At last night’s Presidential debate, AI was only mentioned once, when Vice President Harris listed it as an example of an industry where it's important for the US to maintain its lead over China. As the Center for AI Policy (CAIP) has previously argued, in order to win the AI arms race, we need better cybersecurity. No amount of American innovation will sustain a technological lead when rival states can freely download our most important inventions. US companies aren't willing to make the necessary investments in cybersecurity on their own, so we need the next President to take action on this issue.

The federal government has been so slow to step up to the plate on AI safety that states are trying to fill the gap. California Governor Gavin Newsom has a bill on his desk that would require AI companies to create a safety and security plan before spending $100 million on training an advanced AI system. Texas recently passed a law requiring its state agencies to prepare a complete inventory of how they're using AI and how they will protect Texans against discrimination, privacy violations, and job losses caused by AI. The Maryland House of Delegates voted for a ban on AI-powered deepfake revenge porn.

The states' action shows that it's not impossible to tackle the challenges posed by AI -- but this issue is too big to rely on a patchwork of state initiatives. The voters have a right to know what their Presidential candidates will do to keep Americans safe in the age of AI. CAIP is seriously disappointed that ABC News asked no questions about this critical issue, and we urge both Presidential campaigns to promptly clarify their positions.