Many in Congress want to rein in AI but are divided: move fast or wait?

WASHINGTON — Debate over regulating artificial intelligence is intensifying in Washington, but lawmakers are deeply divided over urgency: should Congress act now, or wait?

Democratic Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, warned of “mass destruction” from uncontrolled technology. “Congress needs to wake up. Action is needed as soon as possible,” he declared.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, on the other hand, who cancelled the last two working weeks of September and sent Republicans out campaigning ahead of the midterms in early November, has called some of the fears about AI exaggerated. In his view, Congress lacks sufficient knowledge for a swift regulatory overhaul.

Republicans remain split: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia are demanding a special session or a bill for an emergency “kill switch”, while California Republican Jay Obernolte, who holds a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, says truly dangerous technology is “months and years away” and that “nothing meaningful would get done before the election anyway”.

Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell voiced frustration with the decision to break session: “We should have stayed here,” she said.

The debate comes as President Trump moves in the opposite direction: on Saturday he announced the formation of an “AI Force” and called fear of superintelligence “a hoax”, promising the administration would not slow the industry’s growth.

Source: USA Today