The House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) released its sweeping end-of-year report Tuesday, laying out a roadmap for Congress as it crafts policy surrounding the advancing technology.

The 253-page report dives deeply into how the U.S. can harness AI in social, economic, and health settings while acknowledging how the technology can be harmful or misused in some cases.

‘This report highlights America’s leadership in its approach to responsible AI innovation while considering guardrails to safeguard the nation against current and emerging threats,’ task force co-chairs Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) wrote in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

The report follows a months-long probe by Obernolte, Lieu, and 22 other congressional members, who spoke with over 100 technical experts, government officials, academics, legal scholars, and business leaders to produce dozens of recommendations for different industry sectors.

Amid both excitement and concerns over the emerging technology, lawmakers introduced over 100 bills regarding AI use this session, though most did not make it across the finish line, leaving Congress with an uncertain path forward on the issue.

The report serves as a blueprint for future legislation and other actions, breaking recommendations into 14 areas of society from healthcare to national security to small businesses.

Intellectual property has been a key point of contention in the AI space, leading to numerous lawsuits against major AI companies over the use of copyrighted content to train their models. While the lawmakers noted that it remains unclear whether legislation is needed, recommendations were made for Congress to clarify intellectual property laws and regulations.

The task force emphasized the need to counter the growing issue of AI-generated deepfakes. Although several anti-deepfake bills have been advanced, none made it through Congress. The report indicated that there is no one perfect solution to authenticate content and suggested focusing on the development of multiple solutions.

Furthermore, lawmakers recommended legislation to clarify the legal responsibilities of individuals involved in creating synthetic content, including AI developers, content producers, and distributors.

Another significant debate surrounded open versus closed systems in AI. Open systems grant public access to AI models, allowing for customization. While concerns regarding manipulation of open systems exist, the task force found little evidence suggesting that open AI models should be restricted.

Concerning federal use of AI, lawmakers acknowledged its ‘potentially transformative’ benefits while warning that improper usage could jeopardize privacy, security, and fair treatment. They found that knowledge about AI varies widely across the federal workforce and recommended paying attention to the ‘foundations of AI systems.’

Notably, this report arrives nearly two months after the Biden administration issued its first-ever national security memorandum on AI, urging U.S. agencies to leverage AI systems for national security and maintain an edge over foreign adversaries.

Lawmakers in Tuesday’s report recognized U.S. rivals are adopting and militarizing AI, recommending Congress oversee AI activity linked to national security and policies regarding autonomous weapons use.

Johnson stated the task force’s report provides leadership with a greater understanding of the technology. It follows the Speaker’s earlier expressed hesitation about overregulating AI development.

‘Developing a bipartisan vision for AI adoption, innovation, and governance is no easy task, but a necessary one,’ Johnson asserted.

Stating that the report is ‘serious, sober, and substantive,’ Jeffries expressed hope it would drive enlightened legislative action. He is currently advocating for AI-related legislation in Congress’s upcoming resolution amid a looming shutdown deadline.

The report recognized the potential shortcomings of AI, particularly regarding civil rights. ‘Adverse effects from flawed or misused technologies are not new developments but are consequential considerations in designing and using AI systems,’ it read.

To counteract these issues, lawmakers recommended a human role in identifying flaws during AI usage for critical decisions and ensuring regulators possess the necessary tools for these risks. One strategy could involve collaboration between AI expert agencies and regulators to create focused research programs aimed at identifying diverse risks.