Committee on AI unanimously approves recommendations, encourages use

(The Center Square) – Georgia’s Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence unanimously approved its final report and recommendations to the Legislature during a meeting on Tuesday.

The 185-page document recommends three specific steps the Legislature should take to regulate AI in the state.

“We believe that we need to adopt state legislation to support AI regulation without stifling innovation,” said Republican Sen. John Albers, chairman of the committee, during the meeting. “That includes a comprehensive data privacy bill and an updated deep fake law.”

While some of those protections are already on the books in state law, Albers said they need to be strengthened.

“Artificial intelligence represents one of the most dynamic and complex advancements of our time,” Albers explained in a release. “This committee worked diligently to ensure Georgia is not only prepared for the opportunities AI offers but also vigilant in addressing its challenges, from ethical concerns to workforce implications.”

Members from both sides of the aisle on the bipartisan committee touched on the difficult balance between not stifling AI, while still ensuring that Georgians in all sectors from education, public safety, health care, agriculture and entertainment are protected.

On that front, the report also recommends legislative changes that would “embed requirements for full transparency and disclosure when utilizing AI to maintain public trust,” as well as an official “state board for artificial intelligence.”

“We should make sure we’re working to put those guardrails in place,” Albers said in the Tuesday meeting. “That’s very critical for transparency.”

Legislation to form the committee was first passed in March by the Senate “for the purpose of studying artificial intelligence.” It was passed overwhelmingly, with only one nay vote.

Over its past eight meetings, the committee heard from numerous experts in the field, businesses, and even educational institutions. Through their testimony, the committee hoped to “empower” the state to quickly adopt AI in its day-to-day operations.

“We heard from a lot of different individuals and their subject matter expertise,” Albers said. “Artificial intelligence is changing in real time and literally, sometimes on a daily basis. We have a great opportunity to embrace AI as a state government to become more efficient and to become better, but doing that in a way that we all feel comfortable.”

The committee will be officially disbanded on Dec. 15. Members of the committee expressed the hope that this will only be the first step the Legislature takes.

“It literally touches every Georgian every day. So, it is essential that we craft policy that protects Georgians but promotes AI and promotes its effective and appropriate use,” said Republican Sen. Max Burns during the meeting. “There’s a lot of work still in the future, but this is a great way to start.”