FRANKFORT, Ky. — As artificial intelligence technology continues to grow, Kentucky leaders are eyeing strategies for continued oversight and the possibility of new legislation to address it. .
With lawmakers scheduled to return to Frankfort for the next 2025 legislative session, scheduled to begin on January 7, 2025, the AI Task Force recently adopted what could be described as a list of legislative priorities.
Sen. Jex Williams (R-Verona) is a member of the 11-member task force.
“The federal government is the best place to really deal effectively with AI,” he said. “But there are other areas that we as a state need to agree we can work on right now.”
Since July, the task force has met several times on an interim basis and heard testimony from leaders representing multiple state agencies and Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
“Throughout the past year, it has become more and more pervasive in our lives,” said Nicholas Caporusso, associate professor of computing and analysis at NKU. “It’s important to have people at the government level thinking about the opportunities and risks of AI.”
The task force adopted the following 11 recommendations:
Consider legislation that provides policy standards for Kentucky’s use of AI. This includes the decision-making framework for ethical AI use, the business case for use, the approval process for use, and disclosures during use. , reduces third-party risks during use and ensures data privacy for Kentuckians. We urge the federal government to take immediate action on regulating AI. Directs Legislative Research Committee (LRC) staff to provide definitions. Use of AI for Legislative Purposes in Kentucky. Consider legislation that would promote and protect election integrity in Kentucky by encouraging the responsible use of AI in connection with elections and election processes. Promote Kentucky Community and Technical Colleges. System (KCTCS), in collaboration with the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), to conduct research on how employer-provided Al-related educational opportunities and initiatives are reflected in postsecondary education outcomes. We encourage the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office to examine current healthcare regulations to determine whether sufficient guidelines are in place to protect patients from potential HIPAA violations. Review laws regarding personal likeness and continue to work with the General Assembly on all issues arising from advances in aluminum. Consider allowing a one-time allocation of funds to centers that Kentucky institutions can use to promote responsible research. Consider legislation that promotes the responsible use of Al by requiring certain disclosures when communicating with Al chatbots. Encourage all infrastructure providers to develop long-term Al governance models. Create a framework of best practices that ensures data integrity, protects proprietary and confidential information, ensures accountability for acceptable use of Al products, and instills ethical and moral ethos. Encourages the General Assembly to continue supporting policies that ensure Kentucky’s electric utilities have the adequate generation and infrastructure needed to meet growing energy demands.
Emerging technology comes in all forms, Williams said, so it’s important to create a statewide definition of AI so that lawmakers can enact laws surrounding it. We are not excluded as individuals from that chain. ”
“It’s not going away. We’re integrating it more and more into our lives, whether we want to or not,” Caporusso said. “We use systems that incorporate AI, and we leverage AI to make our work and lives better. Like any other type of technology, AI has clear potential to be harmful. There are many.”
A list of recommendations was sent to the LRC, which serves as the administrative and research arm of the Kentucky General Assembly.
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