2024 Sees Surge in State-Level AI Legislation Across the US
In 2024, state legislatures across the United States have introduced and enacted a significant number of bills aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI). These efforts reflect a growing concern over the impact and proliferation of AI technologies within both governmental and private sectors. Legislation varies widely in scope but generally focuses on four main areas: governmental use of AI, private sector regulation, studying AI impacts, and AI's role in elections.
Governmental Use of AI
So far, legislators in 35 states have proposed over 150 bills addressing the use of AI by state governmental entities, resulting in 19 of these bills being enacted in 13 states. One notable example is Maryland's S 818, which introduces broad guardrails for governmental AI use. This legislation mandates that any AI system classified as "high-risk" undergo regular impact assessments. It also requires state entities to notify individuals affected by these AI systems, offering them the opportunity to opt-out. The bill defines "high-risk" AI as systems posing significant risks to civil rights, civil liberties, equal opportunities, access to resources, privacy, or critical infrastructure. The implementation details remain to be seen, but it grants considerable discretion to the governor's office and relevant state agencies regarding the extent of enforcement.
Private Sector Regulation
In the private sector, 29 states have proposed nearly 150 bills, with 11 enacted across nine states. A significant piece of legislation in this category is California's AB 2013. This bill, currently awaiting the governor's signature, requires companies to disclose detailed information about their AI systems before they can be released or modified. Companies must reveal the types of data used, data processing steps, and the timeline of data collection. This move aims to bolster transparency around AI systems and includes requirements like watermarking AI-generated media to indicate its synthetic origin.
Studying AI Impacts
Legislators have also been keen to study the broader implications of AI. In 2024, more than 70 bills across 29 states have been proposed to mandate impact assessments and the formation of AI task forces. Indiana's S 150, for instance, establishes the "Artificial Intelligence Task Force," composed of state legislators, academics, legal experts, and industry representatives. This task force is charged with studying AI technologies utilized or considered by state agencies and examining recommendations from other states. The outcomes of these studies are likely to inform future legislation concerning AI's impact on legal rights and economic welfare.
AI in Elections
Given the growing concerns about AI's role in political campaigns, 24 states and Puerto Rico have introduced 52 bills focused on AI's use in elections. Wisconsin's A 664 exemplifies this trend by mandating that any audio or video communications related to election candidates, issues, or referendums using "synthetic media" must disclose this fact. The bill defines "synthetic media" as content produced in part by generative AI. Non-compliance results in fines for content creators, although third-party broadcasters remain unaffected. This legislation aims to address the increasing prevalence of AI-generated misinformation in election processes.
Conclusion
The legislative landscape in 2024 underscores a heightened focus on AI regulation at the state level. From Maryland's efforts to safeguard civil liberties through governmental AI use to California's push for transparency in the private sector, these laws reflect diverse approaches to managing AI's rapid integration into society. As task forces like Indiana's AI Task Force commence their investigations and report their findings, further legislative actions are anticipated. The evolving definitions of "high-risk" AI and other key terms likely will continue to shape the regulation of this transformative technology.
Source: Noah Wire Services