Press Releases

Today, the Education and Workforce Committee held the first hearing in a series examining how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting the workforce, job training, and education. 
 
Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) started the hearing by highlighting how AI is already impacting today’s world. 

“AI tools are already helping teachers reduce administrative burdens, better personalize learning, and free up more time to engage directly with students. For workers, AI can help build new skills, increase efficiency, and accelerate on-the-job learning. As a result, employers can expect productivity gains that contribute to economic growth,” he said.  

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) asked Mr. Adeel Khan, Founder & CEO of MagicSchool AI, about how to protect students’ data as well as how to ensure they are still able to think critically when using AI. “We believe…that if a student isn’t introduced to generative AI in a school building, they will inevitability be introduced to generative AI in a different way…I think everyone in this room would agree that you’d prefer the first time a child interacts with generative AI it’s under the guidance of a teacher who’s teaching them about how it works, [and] the risks and benefits of using generative AI,” Mr. Khan explained.  

Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) asked how AI is addressing the issue of affordability. “The University of Texas at Houston Health System used AI to predict when folks were going to miss their appointments. They saved $250,000 in one quarter. Many Americans can’t afford health care—we should be exploring…how we can automate and improve scribing and so many activities that increase our medical costs,” said Mr. Kevin Frazier, AI Innovation & Law Fellow at the University of Texas Law School.
 
Ms. Chaya Nayak, Head of Certifications and Jobs Platform, Open AI, told Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO) the benefits they are seeing in classrooms that use AI. “A study from Harvard University found that a physics class that had a tailored curriculum that was focused on using ChatGPT…doubled [student] engagement and actually improved their problem-solving skills,” she said. 

Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) asked Ms. Nayak how AI can be used to help train workers for the modern workforce rather than displace them. “What we are doing is providing a foundation of certifications, we’re partnering with governments, we’re partnering with employers to think about how those certifications can enter into their workflow…[and] lead to jobs,” Ms. Nayak explained.

Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) asked how AI can help students with disabilities. “When AI is informed with the needs of the child…the interaction they have with the technology can be even more personalized to the needs that they have,” explained Mr. Khan.

Bottom line: Committee Republicans are looking at ways AI can expand opportunity, productivity, and skills training while setting clear expectations for safety, privacy, and accountability.