U.S. Representative Don Beyer, author of AI Foundation Model Transparency Act, discusses his journey into AI, bipartisan AI caucuses work, and importance of AI legislation on Capitol Hill. The podcast explores global AI policies, AI's role in social issues, personalized education, healthcare transformation, and government decision-making.
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Quick takeaways
Rep. Beyer focuses on AI regulation & policy-making in Congress.
AI applications should prioritize societal benefits like mental health support & crisis intervention.
Deep dives
AI and Science Committee Involvement
Being appointed to the science committee in Congress allowed Don to engage with topics like climate change and oversee projects such as NASA oversight, black hole imagery, and gravitational waves research. This experience broadened his exposure to various scientific endeavors and fostered his interest in the intersection of science and policy-making.
AI Education and Personal Development
Don's journey into AI began with a Coursera course on gamification and AI, which captivated his interest. Despite initial struggles due to lack of programming knowledge and math background, he pursued further education, including calculus and object-oriented programming. He approaches learning AI with determination and persistence, showcasing the importance of continuous personal development.
Policy-Making and AI Legislation
In Don's role as a congressman, he focuses on AI regulation and policy-making, engaging with international counterparts to discuss AI-related regulations and agreements. His efforts include participating in AI caucuses and task forces aimed at streamlining AI legislation and addressing challenges such as deep fakes and bio-weapons development. Don emphasizes the need for global cooperation and arms control involving AI technologies.
AI Applications for Social Good
Don envisions AI applications that prioritize societal benefits, such as climate change mitigation, food insecurity alleviation, and suicide prevention. He advocates for leveraging AI to enhance mental health support, education, and crisis intervention. By emphasizing the potential of AI for positive social impact, Don encourages practitioners to innovate in areas that optimize well-being and address critical societal issues.
At the age of 72, U.S. Representative Don Beyer of Virginia enrolled at GMU to pursue a Master’s degree in C.S. with a concentration in Machine Learning.
Rep. Beyer is Vice Chair of the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Caucus & Vice Chair of the NDC’s AI Working Group. He is the author of the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act & a lead cosponsor of the CREATE AI Act, the Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act & the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act.
We hope you tune into this inspiring, nonpartisan conversation with Rep. Beyer about his decision to dive into the deep end of the AI pool & his leadership in bringing that expertise to Capitol Hill.
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