Driving The Day

Today is September 18, 2024, and here are the key policymaker and stakeholder actions on AI you need to know: In Washington, Arati Prabhakar, the director of The White House Office of Science and Technology, expressed support for funding the National AI Research Resource to help prevent AI development from being concentrated in “a few large tech companies.” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) argued the United States will have to rely on a variety of energy sources—including traditional sources—to meet the energy needs of AI. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed several AI bills into law, including legislation that restricts the use of AI in elections and legislation that regulates AI-generated digital replicas of a performer’s voice or likeness. Newsom also expressed concern over the “chilling effect” California SB 1047, which would regulate the most advanced AI models, could have on the AI industry, but stopped short of announcing his position on the bill.

In this issue:

• Washington in Focus: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raimondo and U.S. Secretary of State Blinken announced the inaugural convening of the international network of AI Safety Institutes.

• Around the Nation: Wyoming lawmakers set aside AI governance bills, unable to reach unanimous agreement.

• Across the Pond: The European Commission ended its probe of the Microsoft-Inflection AI partnership.

• Global Highlights: A think tank published a blog post discussing the regulation of AI in Africa.

• Outside Views: Common Sense Media published a report on the use of Generative AI in K-12 education.

Read these stories and more below: