'No consensus': House backs off of push for large-scale AI regulations

The House of Representatives will likely not take up legislation this year to establish a large-scale framework for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Digital that AI development was in a stage where he was concerned that over-burdensome regulations could make the U.S. fall behind competitors like China.

"There’s no consensus right now," Scalise said when asked about the likelihood of AI legislation. "Frankly, we shouldn't be having some new regulatory structure, billions of taxpayer money, to do what the private sector is already doing. You know, and AI is a great example of how America's leading the world in innovation, we don't need to limit that growth by throwing a whole lot of new regulations on top of it to solve a problem that doesn't exist."

He signaled that a more targeted approach was possible, adding, "There's problems and gaps in the law. Let's take a look at those. But there are already existing laws to deal with some of the problems that you see there."

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Those comments from the No. 2 leader in the House GOP, who helps lead the majority's legislative agenda, came a month after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his bipartisan AI working group unveiled a comprehensive report setting up a path to regulatory legislation in the relevant committees.

That report recommended spending at least $32 billion in taxpayer dollars annually on "non-defense" AI innovation.

Scalise said he was critical of the Senate’s approach.

"They're trying to put regulations in place that would actually impede the growth of this industry," he said. "Why would we want to cede ground to a country like China?"

WH