U.S. Chamber Launches AI Commission

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has officially launched its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Commission on Competition, Inclusion, and Innovation to advance U.S. leadership in the use and regulation of AI technologies.

Suzanne P. Clark is president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how businesses operate, and this emerging technology can be a tremendous force for good in developing new medical treatments, identifying cyberthreats, expanding opportunities for the underserved, and making communities safer and more prosperous,” said Clark. “Technological innovation is foundational to a thriving 21st century economy. We must leverage AI to compete globally, and we need reasonable and responsible rules governing the use of AI that harness its potential while effectively mitigating its risks.” 

The AI Commision is co-chaired by former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) and Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ). It will bring together thought leaders with experience in government, industry, and civil society. The aim of the Commission is to address the advancement and challenges of AI adoption in communities throughout the U.S.

“Artificial intelligence and automation are fundamentally changing every aspect of our lives. From helping develop vaccines in breaking time to finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint, the use of AI is already making a lasting impact,” said Rep. Delaney. “However, harnessing the full potential of this technology also means addressing the complex questions and challenges surrounding its use to provide the necessary guard rails to allow the technology to continue to fairly flourish. As co-chair of the commission, I look forward to working with my co-chair, former Representative Mike Ferguson, and hearing from Americans across the country to develop strong, bipartisan, and consensus-driven recommendations around these complex questions, which will allow AI to continue to help the American public.” 

Some of the Commission’s tasks will include requesting input from stakeholders, meeting with researchers, and conducting field hearings. It will then use the information gathered to recommend bipartisan AI policy solutions to help the U.S. innovate while adhering to principles of fairness. 

“Artificial intelligence isn’t science fiction. Machine-learning is at our doorstep with its promise to revolutionize every sector of our economy and touch nearly every aspect of our lives,” said Rep. Ferguson. “That transformative impact raises significant questions for U.S. policymakers, especially as both competitive and adverse nations race to gain AI dominance over the United States. I’m proud to serve as a co-chairman of this important commission, which will provide U.S. policymakers with a consensus roadmap to promote technological innovation and to advocate for AI’s economic and societal benefits, such as increasing human safety, health and productivity. However, we also will carefully examine and prudently reflect on questions of potential workforce disruption, consumer and investor protections, and biases in algorithmic decision-making.” 

Members of the Commission include: 

• Alex Dimakis: Professor, ECE Department, UT Austin; Co-Director, National AI Institute on the Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML) 
• Rachel Gillum: Head of Global Policy, Office of Ethical & Humane Use of Technology, Salesforce 
• Jerry Jones: Executive Vice President, Chief Ethics and Legal Officer, LiveRamp 
• Shekar Katuri: Data Science Executive, Bank of America 
• Christina Montgomery: Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer, IBM 
• Brent Orell: Senior Fellow American Enterprise Institute 
• Osonde Osoba: Senior Information Scientist, RAND Corporation 
• Adam Thierer: Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University  
• Conrad Tucker: Arthur Hamerschlag Career Development Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University 

The Commission will hold its first hearing in Austin, Texas on March 10, 2022.