On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is hosting a second artificial intelligence (AI) Forum – only a month after the first forum was criticized for being a closed-door meeting that resulted in no meaningful action. [1]

This time, atop the guest list is Marc Andreessen, a billionaire venture capitalist who – in the days after the forum was announced – opined that putting the brakes on AI development equates to a “form of murder.” [2] Now, Andreessen is getting the chance to share his extreme anti-regulation view with lawmakers.

But those of us who aren’t out-of-touch billionaires know that without oversight, rampant tech development often leads to more harm than good. Will you add your name demanding AI regulation now?

Despite the deep pockets and vast influence of tech CEOs and investors like Andreessen, who only stand to profit from government inaction, lawmakers are finally taking steps toward meaningful AI regulation. Just last week, the House Energy and Commerce committee held a hearing featuring Accountable Tech partner Amba Kak, who serves as Executive Director of AI Now.

In her testimony, she cited the Zero-Trust Governance AI framework co-authored by Accountable Tech, AI Now and EPIC, saying:

“The key lesson of the last decade has been understanding that control over data is about power asymmetries, and since companies have clear commercial benefit from widening this asymmetry, regulation is essential to protect the public from harms… if we want the future of AI to protect civil rights, advance democracy, and improve people’s lives, we must fundamentally change the incentive structure that shapes AI development.”[3]

She's right. And fortunately billionaires like Andreessen aren’t the only people attending Senator Schumer’s AI Insight Forum on innovation. Civil rights advocates and experts will also be there, and they need to know we have their back when they say a profit-driven, free-for-all approach to AI development will fail people, workers, and society at large. It’s time for AI oversight and regulation.

Nicole Gill
Co-founder and Executive Director
Accountable Tech

1. The Atlantic: AI’s Present Matters More Than Its Imagined Future
2. Axios: Civilization depends on more AI, Marc Andreessen says
3. U.S. House Comittee on Energy, Commerce Subcomittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce: Amba Kak, Executive Director, AI Now Institute testimnony

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