AI safety group outlines demands for legislation, warns lawmakers

Guardrails Action, a nonprofit pushing for safeguards on artificial intelligence, led a coalition of nearly 40 organizations to outline a series of key principles for AI legislation , warning that it will oppose anything less.

In a Wednesday letter to lawmakers, the coalition argued legislation must feature enforceable and transparent government oversight that is not designed or controlled by major tech firms.

It also said AI rules should have a broad mandate covering everything from existential risks to economic shocks and should be judged by their impact on humanity rather than stock performance, in addition to calling for the enforcement of existing laws.

“The public is demanding action on AI,” the group continued. “Any AI regulatory legislation that fails to meet the above basic principles will not receive our support; it will be met with active, mobilized opposition. This moment requires nothing less.”

Guardrails Action was joined in the letter by several major unions and advocacy groups, including the American Federation of Teachers, End Citizens United, National Education Association, Public Citizen, Tech Oversight Project and United Auto Workers.

It comes at a moment when numerous AI-related cybersecurity incidents and dire warnings from researchers have prompted some AI leaders to call for a slowdown in development and seek guardrails on the technology.

“Big AI and their army of lobbyists and publicists want to divide Congress and the public on this issue. The public isn’t fooled and Congress shouldn’t be either,” said Shaunna Thomas, executive director of Guardrails Action, in a statement.

“The American public is demanding guardrails to keep themselves and their families safe, accountability for the ways the technology sector has already caused harm, and leadership that puts human beings at the center of the conversation,” she added.

The nonprofit and its associated super PAC, Guardrails Alliance, launched earlier this year as part of an effort to push for AI regulation and counter the spending of Leading the Future, an AI industry-backed super PAC.

Guardrails Alliance separately announced Wednesday that it plans to spend $1.2 million opposing three candidates backed by Leading the Future — including Republican candidates Aaron Flint and Jay Feely, who are running in Montana and Arizona, respectively, and Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.).