As the debate about the benefits of artificial intelligence continues, with some
Panelists Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tennessee, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, agreed on many of the larger points related to AI and the need for America to remain competitive on a global level in technology.
Failing to keep up, panelists said, would not only be bad for the economy, but could represent a national security risk.
The discussion underscored a mix of optimism for AI's long-term potential and terror over its immediate risks.
Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, framed AI as an opportunity and stressed its profound impact on economic security, national security, education and healthcare.
Porat called it "imperative" that the U.S. continue to lead the world in technology.
Warner supported this outlook with some caveats. He noted capital investment in the AI space could account for 1.5% of gross domestic product growth.
"It will mean a ton of jobs will change and it will be the responsibility of companies like Alphabet and Meta to help navigate it," Warner said.
"We can't be left behind and legislate ourselves into a box and then be beat out by other countries," Warner said.
Dina Powell McCormick, president and vice chairman of Meta, said the focus on AI at her company has been on "bringing this super intelligence to bear on people's lives."
Hagerty cited a local law firm that has not hired a single first-year law graduate and warned that jobs traditionally filled by people with business administration degrees will go away. Hagerty expressed concern that a lot of parents are upset after spending $250,000 on education for their children for career paths that are disappearing.
A major theme was the necessity of establishing proper regulatory balance while navigating competition with China.
Panelists agreed that failing to keep up with technological advancements represents a national security risk. Hagerty emphasized the need to stay ahead of China, warning against the potential for an adversary to "unlock all of our weapons systems."
Porat pointed out that while the U.S. is ahead of China in manufacturing chips, China is leading in developing the energy required to power AI, which she said is essential.
This energy demand is already causing problems, as communities are "struggling under the weight of energy needs wrought by the proliferation of data centers," panelists said.
Porat cautioned against excessive regulation, pointing to Europe where she said innovation is being stifled.
Hagerty noted that if optimism isn't created around AI, opposition on both the left and the right could top innovation through regulation. Warner pointed to Congress' development of the
The technologists on the panel said the U.S. thinking leans more toward pessimism than optimism regarding coming changes, and a shift in perception is necessary.
Porat argued if America does not capitalize on the opportunity presented by AI, such as the potential to eradicate cancer, it would be "shame on us."
But Hagerty cautioned against blind optimism, because that was the mode over the past 10 years as social media proliferated and it has resulted in unintended consequences for children. He stated the U.S. never looked at the underbelly of technology growth regarding social media and the lack of guardrails has caused about 10 years of harm to a generation of kids.
"We have to look at how this bears on the consumer," Hagerty said. "What has happened in this first quarter is we have created a tool — and we didn't expect to have these capabilities. I am AI long over the next five to six years, but AI terrified over the next two to four years."
Warner noted previous major technology shifts were developed by the government not private companies. He pointed to the Manhattan project and how the proliferation of nuclear energy occurred in the last century.
"My background is coming from the private side like a lot of elected leaders," Warner said.
"We need to double down on what has made America competitive," Warner said. But it would be easy for this to go the wrong way, so government needs to stay on top of it, he said.
"We need more natural resources in America, but also more (data) warehouses," Warner said. "We don't have to destroy the environment, but we do have to show up."
