Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott introduced the Artificial Intelligence Acquisitions Act, which would prohibit the U.S. federal government, and private entities it contracts with, from procuring or using adversarial AI. They were joined by joined by Senator John Barrasso on the legislation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a battleground in the technology race between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Beijing has aggressively pushed its own AI components and software on Western companies with the goal of spreading its products throughout the global economy.
The Senators believe that if successful, this strategy will allow communist China to gather intelligence and steal valuable intellectual property from countries that oppose its objectives. The Florida Republicans say the United States, and its government contractors, cannot afford the national security threat of using Chinese AI products and services.
Specifically, this Republican legislation would:
- Prohibits the U.S. government and private entities it contracts with, from procuring or using adversarial AI products and services.
- Tasks the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, in coordination with the Federal Acquisitions Security Council, to compile and update a list of AI products and services from countries of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria.
- Gives companies contracting with the U.S. government two years to divest from products on the list.
“America isn’t ready for the era of AI national security threats,” said Senator Marco Rubio. “How we navigate this terrain will profoundly shape the next few decades. Communist China’s heavy investment in AI poses a serious national security threat, and the United States must have a plan to keep our nation safe on this front. My Artificial Intelligence Acquisitions Act would ensure the federal government and its private sector contractors aren’t using AI designed by China, Russia, or other adversaries.”
“It is no secret that Communist China is working to destroy America and our way of life – and Xi will use any tool necessary, including AI, to do it,” said Senator Rick Scott. “The threats posed by Chinese tech are a massive economic security vulnerability and national security threat for the United States, and as our armed forces train to continue to be the most lethal fighting force on the planet, aggressive action needs to be taken to prevent critical data from being stolen or our systems from being tainted by adversaries. We must stop the federal government from jeopardizing our security by using technology that is linked back to our adversaries, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.”
