E&W Blog

The Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing to examine the way artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the workplace.

Subcommittee Chairman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) highlighted how policy gaps undermine business competitiveness in a fast-moving global economy.

“At the same time, some states and localities are moving ahead independently with their own AI regulations. New York, California, Colorado, and others have begun implementing policies intended to address privacy, discrimination, and other workforce concerns. However, some have raised concerns that these policies risk creating a patchwork of inconsistent rules that create compliance challenges and raise costs. For businesses that operate across state lines, navigating conflicting regulations can create challenges. This is especially true for small businesses,” he said. 

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) asked witnesses where Congress can focus its efforts in ensuring America continues to lead in AI. “China and our adversaries will outpace us if we decide to out regulate ourselves and to cede that innovation to them,” said Ms. Rachel Greszler, Senior Research Fellow at Advancing American Freedom. “But also, we have to have the proper infrastructure in place…If you don’t have that infrastructure, it’s not going to develop over time, and that’s also the physical infrastructure and the talent.”

Mr. Matthew Gizzo, Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, told Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) how inconsistent regulation and limited understanding are slowing AI’s full potential. “[A good federal framework] starts with identifying some of the risks…but also taking into account the significant benefits AI can provide and ensur[ing] that those benefits are not tampered [with] by regulation,” Mr. Gizzo explained. 

Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) discussed with Ms. Chatrane Birbal, Senior Vice President at the CHRO Association, the lack of data and economic insight needed to fully understand AI’s impact on jobs and growth. “Having accurate data–not just showing how AI is changing the workforce and the workplace but also showing what new jobs are being created [is important]…AI isn’t wholesale replacing jobs, it’s probably changing the tasks that are occurring within jobs,” she said.

Bottom line: The U.S. must empower businesses with the freedom to innovate, while pursuing targeted, commonsense safeguards not burdensome regulations that risk putting the nation at a competitive disadvantage.