Sen. Ed Markey Garners Support For AI Legislation

MALDEN, MA — Sen. Ed Markey (D, Massachusetts) spoke on the Senate Floor Thursday about his Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act and the growing support he has received for it.

“The legislation – the most comprehensive AI civil rights legislation introduced in Congress – would put strict guardrails on companies’ use of algorithms for consequential decisions, ensure algorithms are tested before and after deployment, help eliminate and prevent bias, and renew Americans’ faith in the accuracy and fairness of complex algorithms,” Markey’s Representatives said in a statement.

According to Markey, a total of 80 entities now support the legislation including fellow politicians and civil rights, housing, labor, LGBTQ+, disability, and immigrant organizations.
54 of the 80 endorsements became official Thursday, with Markey announcing them during his remarks. He expressed his excitement for the positive aspects of AI development, however asserted that the potential negatives are being ignored.

“AI holds great promise, with the potential to transform the way we live, work, and interact with the world,” Markey said. “But as with any race, there are winners and losers. And I’m deeply worried that we are too focused on the potential winners of this AI race, and we are neglecting those who are already being left behind.”

The Malden native likened the AI acronym to standing for “Accelerated Injustice” if it is not regulated by Congress moving forward.