The US House of Representatives is unlikely to pass broad AI regulation this year. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that he opposes extensive regulations, fearing they might hinder the US in AI development compared to China. Instead, he suggests focusing on existing laws and targeted fixes rather than creating new regulatory structures.

This stance contrasts with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's proposal, whose bipartisan AI working group report recommended a$32 billion annual investment in non-defense AI innovation and a comprehensive regulatory framework. The House's bipartisan AI task force is also cautious about large-scale regulations.

Chair Rep. Jay Obernolte suggests that some targeted AI legislation might be feasible, while Rep. French Hill advocates for a sector-specific review under existing laws rather than a broad regulatory framework. This division between the House and Senate reduces the likelihood of significant AI legislation this year, but the House may consider smaller, urgent AI-related bills to address immediate issues.

Why does it matter?

The US Congress has seen a surge in AI legislation from both the Senate and House, by the rise of advanced AI models like ChatGPT and DeepAI, and growing issues with 'deepfake' content, particularly around elections and scams. However, this division reduces the likelihood of significant AI legislation this year, though smaller, urgent AI-related bills may still be approved.