US Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced a bill, the Sandbox Act, aimed at giving companies developing AI technologies a way to bypass regulations by requesting a government waiver.
According to the bill, the act would “establish a Federal regulatory sandbox program for artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.”
In introducing the bill, Cruz said it would allow AI tech to be unhindered by “outdated or inflexible federal rules.” In addition to establishing a program for this, the bill, if passed, would allow AI companies to request a two-year waiver that could be renewed for up to 10 years. As part of that waiver application, tech companies would need to offer details of how they’ll address safety and financial risks.
The proposed act comes several months after Congress removed a spending bill addition that would have blocked state AI regulations for 10 years, a measure Cruz was also behind. In the interim, there’s been much debate on the role the government should take in regulating — or not regulating — AI technologies.
In a press release related to the Sandbox Act, Cruz said the bill is about “Winning the AI race” against countries such as China. Cruz said: “Following this new AI framework can turbocharge economic activity, cut through bureaucratic red tape, and empower American AI developers while protecting human flourishing. The Sandbox Act is the first step. It embraces our nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and gives AI developers the room to create while still mitigating any health or consumer risks.”
