Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing titled “Leveraging AI to Enhance American Communications.”
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF AI
“Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for being here to discuss the importance of artificial intelligence—otherwise known as AI—in the communications and technology sector.
“But AI is more than just a thing of fiction.
“The uses of AI technology spans across many sectors. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of our lives across a range of industries, many of which are within the jurisdiction of this subcommittee.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to regulating this technology, nor should there be. To unlock the full potential of AI, we must establish foundational protection for the data that powers many of these new AI tools by enacting a comprehensive data privacy standard in the United States.
“As we integrate AI into various aspects of our lives, it is crucial to ensure that its deployment is guided by ethical principles and American values.”
BOLSTERING AMERICANS’ CONNECTIVITY
“In the communications sector, artificial intelligence applications are used to optimize the quality and reliability of service, fight the scourge of robocalls, detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents, and ensure a safe online experience for kids.
“AI applications are used to provide faster, more reliable Internet service. Whether Americans are on a telehealth visit, working from home, streaming their favorite shows, or playing video games, intelligent networks now and in the future will perform better by using large models to predict where traffic capacity will be needed and when.
“Network operators currently take advantage of digitized networks to more rapidly detect outages, use detailed analytics to determine the cause of the outage, and eventually, get Americans back online faster.
“This automation takes place not only in wired networks, but also in wireless networks, where AI applications are used to optimize the use of the airwaves to provide the best user experience.”
STRENGTHENING OUR SECURITY
“For cybersecurity, some AI models utilize algorithms to detect incoming threats and learn from networks’ previous behavior to establish a framework for prevention in the future.
“AI utilization in content moderation has become a significant factor in deterring violent content and other material that violates the rules of a platform. AI’s actions are key to creating a safer and more interactive platforms for users.
“In the same way humans are not perfect, AI is not perfect, either. Because humans design AI algorithms, AI systems may contain unintentional bias, which unfortunately could lead to discrimination.
“The key to ensuring the safety of algorithms used by Big Tech is to make sure the algorithms are trained and developed responsibly with greater transparency for the user.
“These are just a few of the nearly unlimited uses of AI technology. Whether you are in your home or on a busy road, AI will assist in providing a more seamless transition from one service to the next, ensuring continuous connectivity.
“Despite these technological advances, this new frontier doesn’t come without challenges, which is why we must ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI.
“In today’s hearing, we will discuss some of the many use cases and benefits of AI. We will also examine why U.S. leadership on AI is imperative for economic and national security.”
