Kamala Harris Calls for AI Regulation and International Treaty
Kamala Harris posted a statement on X outlining her vision for addressing artificial intelligence (AI) concerns. She urged Congress to enact new laws and establish "a new federal entity to provide oversight and independent testing" for advanced AI models, referred to as the "frontier." Additionally, she requested that the President pursue an international treaty with countries like China to regulate dangerous AI uses, development speed, and global testing standards.
Harris emphasized the rapid pace of AI advancements, stating, "the frontier is advancing at an alarming speed," and called for a responsible slowdown in development. This comes after similar sentiments expressed by Barack Obama and Pete Buttigieg, who both advocated for proactive Washington actions, with Obama positioning himself between the "accelerationist" and "doomer" perspectives.
Donald Trump, however, disagreed, calling AI regulation a "SICK conspiracy" and asserting that "the only control… that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT." His comments contradict his previous actions, including rescinding a 2023 executive order on AI oversight.
This debate was preceded by a series of publications from industry leaders. Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk all argued for slowing down AI development. Harris’ proposed federal entity, however, faces an unclear legislative path, as the current bill focuses on blocking unsafe models and establishing a duty of care for developers.
The treaty proposal is less concrete, with Trump and Xi Jinping previously discussing AI guardrails without reaching an agreement. Harris suggests maintaining U.S. leadership while imposing common-sense standards, but the implementation mechanism for involving China remains unclear.