I’m watching a congressional hearing and am struck by how much time is spent on seemingly irrelevant issues compared to the urgent matters we’ll face by the end of this decade. Given the rapid advancements in AI, this should be a central focus in every congressional discussion. Why isn’t the most powerful country on Earth taking this seriously? Should we be relieved that few politicians seem aware of what’s coming?
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Congress is largely composed of individuals with backgrounds in political science or economics, rather than natural science or technology. This makes them less equipped to address technical issues effectively. A more pertinent question might be, “Why aren’t scientists and technologists challenging politicians?”
Probably cause the typical politician (of any side) has no clue how anything technological works… did you see when they tried questioning Zuckerberg and they kept confusing Google for Facebook? they even tried understanding “the internet” with an analogy of pipes getting clogged. These guys are incompetent, to say the least… I rather they keep out of the discussion entirely… or until there are people in politics that give a damn about how things work in the real world and would have an educated opinion on what’s going on in the AI space. Fat chance that’s happening with the current two-party circus we have going, they’ll probably mess it up with regulations paid for by the biggest brive… err sorry… donor to one or the other party (or both! It is allowed!)
Politics = Popular support. Everything they talk about publicly is specifically meant to generate support from the average pleb like us. All the important decision-making happens behind closed doors with greased palms and is often the opposite of what they say publicly.
I can guarantee you that they talk about AI often, but since the majority of their voters could care less, it’s not something they talk about publicly.
AI is a complex field with numerous implications. To fully grasp and manage its potential benefits and risks, a deep technical understanding and forward-thinking approach are essential.
Political Polarization: The current political climate can obstruct bipartisan cooperation and consensus on important issues such as AI regulation.
Short-Term Focus: Politicians frequently face pressure to tackle immediate concerns, which can result in the neglect of long-term issues like AI.
Economic Interests: The financial stakes of different industries and stakeholders can shape the political discussion around AI development and regulation.