WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers are raising new concerns about artificial intelligence and pushing for congressional action following warnings about the technology’s potential risks.
A former Anthropic employee has raised concerns that many people working inside the AI industry believe the technology is becoming too advanced and could pose a deadly threat to humans within the next decade.
The concerns come as lawmakers seek more information about recent cybersecurity and safety incidents involving AI systems.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seeking information about incidents involving the company’s AI agents and its safeguards. Blumenthal accused OpenAI of prioritizing profits and performance over safety and described the reported failure of safeguards as a “stunning failure.”
ABC News correspondent Jay O’Brien reported that concerns are also being raised by other members of Congress.
“A flurry of other lawmakers expressing concerns too. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida calling for a special session of Congress to tackle AI. A Pennsylvania Democrat saying that this is an emergency. Major AI companies have in the past said that they would be open to government regulation, but Congress has never passed any meaningful AI law,” O’Brien reported.
