Pressure Mounts in Congress to Regulate AI Technology
A growing resistance to AI technology within conservative circles is gaining momentum in Congress, potentially paving the way for new regulations on the rapidly advancing field. This movement is driven in part by long-held skepticism of Big Tech and apocalyptic warnings from influential figures like billionaire Elon Musk.
AI-generated images have become a staple of online conservatism, with depictions of President Donald Trump and memes portraying his opponents as communists. However, beneath this surface-level adoption lies a deep-seated resistance to AI technology rooted in the conservative movement’s distrust of Big Tech.
Criticism of AI on the right spans from concerns about defamation to warnings about its potential role in the end times. Central to these concerns is the concept of the AI “singularity” – a hypothetical point where AI becomes capable of self-improvement, leading to an uncontrollable cascade of technological advancements.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon recently likened Musk and other tech billionaires to the “four horsemen of the apocalypse,” stating that they are driving a “radical transformation in all human history” for personal gain and power. While not all conservatives share this apocalyptic view, there is a growing apprehension about AI among traditional Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
Experts warn that the current hype surrounding AI may be exaggerated, with some critics labeling it as marketing tactics to secure funding and attention. MIT economist Daron Acemoglu noted that while recent advancements are significant, the calculations made by current AI systems differ fundamentally from human thought processes.
Despite varying expectations about AI’s future among conservatives, a recent Pew Research survey found that majorities in both parties are concerned about AI being under-regulated. Among Democrats, 64% expressed concern that regulation wouldn’t go far enough, while 56% of Republicans shared similar concerns.
As Congress considers legislation related to AI, there may be an opportunity to pressure Republicans to heed their base’s distrust of AI technology. The GOP’s budget bill, which has passed the House, includes provisions related to AI regulation that have drawn opposition from some Republican senators and representatives.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who initially supported the bill, later expressed opposition to the AI moratorium, calling it a “poison pill” unrelated to federal spending. This internal conflict within the Republican party could create an opening for changes to the bill’s language during the reconciliation process.
