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Understanding AI’s Impact

Philadelphia’s City Council is delving into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) to grasp its potential and risks. Councilmember Rue Landau has initiated a resolution to hold hearings on AI’s current state in the city. This comes as Pennsylvania state government, led by Senator Tracy Pennycuick, also seeks to legislate AI, particularly concerning disinformation during elections (link).

Addressing AI Concerns

Landau aims to understand AI’s implications across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The hearings will focus on AI’s safe usage and address concerns like discrimination and workforce changes. A significant worry is AI’s role in spreading election disinformation, highlighted by fake robocalls during the New Hampshire Primary (link).

State-Level AI Legislation

Pennsylvania is working on AI-related bills, such as Senate Bill 1213, which targets deepfakes involving children. This bill criminalizes sexual deepfakes and mandates social media platforms to remove such content (link). Another bill, Senate Bill 1217, seeks to prevent AI from influencing elections without candidates’ consent (link).

Federal and State AI Initiatives

While federal AI regulations are lacking, states like Alabama, California, and North Carolina are introducing bills against AI-generated CSAM. The Biden administration’s executive order promotes safe AI development, and Congress is considering a bill to standardize AI practices across federal agencies (link).

Philadelphia’s approach, starting with city council hearings, is a step towards crafting local AI regulations. Landau emphasizes the ongoing nature of this process, aiming to embrace AI’s potential while addressing its challenges.