Senator Laphonza Butler believes that choosing between supporting artificial intelligence and human workers is a 'false dichotomy.'
Butler mentions that it is not about "misleading elections."
Representing California in Congress presents a unique challenge: finding a balance between national politics and the interests of the most populous state in the U.S., which includes significant representation from the tech industry. This challenge has been taken on by both the current Senator from California, Laphonza Butler, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who previously held the role. Currently, governing the tech world involves addressing the issue of artificial intelligence (AI).
So far, Congress has had few initiatives in establishing a national regulatory framework for generative AI. However, California positions itself as the epicenter of the AI industry, hosting companies like OpenAI and Google. Nationally, Harris has acted as a sort of "czar" for AI within the Biden administration, leading dialogues with industry stakeholders and civil society leaders on how to regulate this sector. Meanwhile, Butler, who has a long history of collaboration with the Vice President, focuses on a specific problem: the impact of AI systems on work and social equity.
Recently, Butler shared her thoughts on the need to balance the interests of AI companies with those of people affected by their products, including workers who fear being replaced by automation. "It all starts with listening," Butler mentions, drawing from her background as a labor leader. "It's about listening to both the developers and the communities that might be negatively impacted, as well as to the spaces where opportunities exist."
Like other officials, Butler emphasizes her desire to protect Americans from the potential dangers of AI without stifling the opportunities it may offer. She praised figures like Schumer and the Biden administration for "creating spaces for communities to have a voice," involving labor and civil society leaders in addition to high-level executives from the AI industry to educate and engage in regulatory dialogues.
Butler advocates that lawmakers avoid making "false choices" between the interests of AI executives and workers. "Listening is fundamental, balancing everyone's interests, but the goal must be to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people. For me, that’s where a legislator should always aim to land."
State Senator Scott Wiener made similar statements regarding his controversial bill, SB 1047, which called for protections for whistleblowers and safeguards against potentially disastrous events in large AI companies, making it to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk before being vetoed, with companies like OpenAI warning it could hinder innovation. In August, Wiener defended that "we can advance both in innovation and safety; both goals are not mutually exclusive." However, so far, lawmakers have struggled to find a balance between the two.
Butler applauds the steps that Schumer and the Biden-Harris administration have taken so far to establish appropriate limits around AI but reiterates that "there's always more to be done." Schumer presented a roadmap earlier this year on how to shape AI policy, although he did not introduce concrete legislation, and the White House has secured voluntary commitments from AI companies to develop technology safely.
Among Butler's recent initiatives is the Workforce of the Future Act, introduced alongside Senator Mazie Hirono. This bill would instruct the Department of Labor, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Education to study the impact of AI across various labor sectors and create a $250 million grant program to prepare workers for the skills they will need in the future, particularly in industries likely to face job displacement. "We hope that by preparing both the current and future workforce, we can maximize the opportunity represented by the implementation of artificial intelligence," Butler asserts.
She views this as a significant moment in U.S. history, where policymakers have the opportunity to anticipate what will inevitably be a disruption and attempt to create a channel of opportunities that help stabilize the economy through the generation of equitable opportunities. However, Butler is aware of the dynamics of Congress and the proximity of upcoming elections, noting that "the 118th Congress is quickly coming to an end, with many issues unresolved." She believes that lawmakers still need to have meaningful conversations with representatives of different positions before advancing comprehensive AI legislation. Additionally, she notes the importance of "getting past the upcoming presidential election in November."
