LEGISLATURE 2023-24: Rep. seeks to regulate Artificial Intelligence (WNT)

Sam Fletcher reports on the legislature for the Whidbey News-Times.

State Rep. Clyde Shavers is concerned that artificial intelligence has the potential to spread discrimination, create child pornography and generally act in an unethical manner.

Shavers, a Democrat from Oak Harbor, sponsored two bills and a memorial to the federal government concerning the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence, or AI. These were introduced in early January and are now being reviewed by the committee.

They Said It

Transparency is vital in understanding how AI is being developed and implemented, Shavers said….

Shavers does not intend to hinder innovation by pushing these bills, he said.

“At the same time, we need to ensure that we protect our civil rights,” he said, “that we protect every single person, when or if they use this technology.”

Because of Washington’s rapid technological advancement, driving the terms of ethical use is equally important, he said.

“It’s important for us to collaborate and to coordinate and to listen to all these experts and the public and try to understand how do we foster this innovation?” he asked. “How do we ensure that it’s not being stifled? At the same time, how do we ensure that people are protected?”

While Shavers’ focus is on the Washington State Legislature, people will be affected by this technology beyond state borders, he said.

“I grew up in the era of the internet and social media, and so I’m acutely aware of the rapid speed of how technology can advance,” he said, “but, more importantly, I acknowledge and understand how technology can really affect entire generations, good and bad.”

As vice chair of the House Education Committee, Shavers sees elementary, middle and high schools using ChatGPT, he said….

“As artificial intelligence continues to advance, it will be one of the most significant transformations in technology in recent history,” he said. “I think we are just seeing the beginning of how artificial intelligence can really shape our lives, how we interact, how we live, how we do things and such immense change or the potential for change requires significant motivation and speed for us to be able to understand it first.”

Shavers’ current term ends Jan. 13, 2025, and he plans to run for re-election, he said.

[Ed. Note: Shavers’ is the primary sponsor of HB 1951, which received a public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business on Jan. 19; the bill has received no further consideration. He is one of fifteen co-sponsors of HB 1999, which passed the House on Feb. 8 without opposition. The bill has not yet been referred to a Senate committee. He was one of four co-sponsors of HJM 4005, which was referred out of the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business on Jan. 29, but has not advanced out of the House Rules Committee.]