During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing last week, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) spoke about biases that can develop in artificial intelligence algorithms.
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00:00Thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much. I'd like to talk about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence.
00:07Artificial intelligence can help us combat climate change by improving weather forecasts
00:12and enabling us to better predict power supply and demand.
00:16But designing and training and deploying AI models also poses real risk for our environment.
00:22The massive data centers that are critical for AI development require substantial amounts of electricity,
00:29putting stress on the grid and potentially raising costs for consumers.
00:33These data centers also generate significant heat. Cooling them requires huge volumes of water,
00:39often in regions already facing droughts because of climate change.
00:44And some data centers have on-site backup diesel generators, which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular issues
00:52and can increase the risk of cancer for the surrounding community.
00:56The truth is, we know too little about both the environmental costs and benefits of AI.
01:03Mr. Smith, do you agree that it would be helpful for the government to conduct a comprehensive study
01:08on environmental impact of artificial intelligence?
01:12Generally, yes. One study was just completed last December, and I think it's worth updating periodically.
01:18Do you think it would be helpful for the government to convene stakeholders, including from industry and academia,
01:27to help better measure AI's environmental impact?
01:30I think as well as many other things that need to be measured, yes. I think there's a role to be played.
01:35Mr. Altman, do you agree that the federal government should help with studying and measuring the environmental impact of AI?
01:41I think studying and measuring is usually a good thing. I do think that the conversation about the environmental impact of AI
01:50and the relative challenges and benefits has gotten somewhat out of whack.
01:55I am hopeful that AI, you know, we've been trying to address climate environmental challenges unsuccessfully,
02:01or not successfully enough for a long time. I think we need help. I think AI can help us do that.
02:05We've proposed, or we're in the process of building a 10 gigawatt facility and got another kind of call.
02:11My question is, should the federal government be, on an ongoing basis, studying the impact of AI?
02:17Sure, and I think you should use AI to help.
02:19So that's why this Congress introduced the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impact Act,
02:25to study both the positive and negative consequences of AI.
02:29As the technology continues to develop, as models become more efficient, and as we build out the infrastructure, we need to do it.
02:36Yes, AI may find a cure for cancer. It may.
02:42But AI also could help to contribute to a climate disaster.
02:48That's also equally true.
02:50So we need to just keep both of those things right on the table.
02:54Especially as the Trump administration is ignoring the fact that last year,
03:0194% of all new installed electrical generation capacity in the United States was wind, solar, and battery.
03:07And Trump has said he's going to destroy all incentives for continuation of that.
03:12That's something you have to weigh in on, make sure he does not do that.
03:16So I look forward to working with you on that.
03:18Now I want to turn to AI's impact on disadvantaged communities.
03:22After all, we're not just talking about using artificial intelligence to write emails or plan grocery lists.
03:28We're talking about technology used to calculate a family's mortgage, screen an individual's job, application,
03:33and determine a senior's medical care.
03:36When used in these situations, it is absolutely essential that AI-powered algorithms are free from bias and discrimination.
03:43So let's start with a simple question.
03:45Mr. Smith, can algorithms be biased and cause discrimination?
03:49They can, which is why we test to avoid that outcome.
03:54Okay. Same question, Mr. Altman.
03:56Can algorithms be biased and cause discrimination?
03:59Of course.
04:01Of course.
04:02Of course.
04:03Mr. Altman, does open AI work to guard against such bias and discrimination in chat GPT?
04:09Of course.
04:10So I'm glad to hear that because you recently stated that the government should not implement privacy regulations on AI,
04:19but instead, quote, respond very quickly as the problems emerge.
04:24And I am very deeply worried about that approach.
04:28We don't need to wait and see if poorly tested and trained algorithms will harm marginalized communities.
04:35Artificial intelligence is already supercharging the bias and discrimination prevalent in our society.
04:42Biased and discriminatory algorithms mean black and brown families are less likely to obtain a mortgage.
04:48It means people with disabilities are less likely to be recommended for a job opening.
04:53And it means women are less likely to receive scholarships for higher education.
04:57These are real harms that are happening right now.
05:00It is Congress's job to address these existing problems that come with the rapid development and deployment of AI.
05:07And it's why I'm the proud author of the AI Civil Rights Act, which would ensure that companies review and eliminate bias and discrimination in their algorithms before developing and deploying them.
05:21It has to happen simultaneously.
05:23And it will hold companies accountable when their algorithms cause harms against marginalized population.
05:30I will be fighting to ensure AI does not stand for accelerating inequality in our nation.
05:39All of the protections we have in the real world should be moved to the virtual world.
05:43Because the same discriminations, again, women, black, brown, communities with disabilities, LGBTQ community are going to move online.
05:51And we have to build in the protections against that bias right up front.
05:56Because otherwise, those same discriminatory practices will just migrate immediately.
06:02And the responsibility of the industry will be to work with Congress to make sure we put those protections on the books.
06:08Thank you, Mr. Chairman.