VET Artificial Intelligence Act

Key Points

• Congress is proposing a plan to create a set of voluntary guidelines to help companies test their artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The goal is to make sure AI works the way it is supposed to and does not cause unexpected harm to the public.
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology would lead the project. They would work with experts to decide how companies should check their own AI and when they should hire outside experts to double-check that the technology is safe and reliable.
• These guidelines would be voluntary, meaning companies are not forced by law to use them. However, having a standard set of rules helps build trust with the public and makes it easier for businesses to prove their technology is responsible.
• The plan includes protections for consumer privacy and business secrets. It also creates a special committee of experts from colleges, tech companies, and civil rights groups to help figure out who is qualified to perform these AI safety checks.
• If passed, the first set of guidelines would be ready within one year. After that, the government would update the rules every two years to keep up with how fast AI technology changes.