FTC's Ferguson tells lawmakers agency won't regulate AI until after problems occur

[Passages]

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson on Thursday told members of the House Appropriations Committee he believes it is important for the agency to avoid stifling artificial intelligence innovation and not regulate the field ahead of abuses.

The United States has an advantage in stoking AI innovation because it doesn’t “reflexively regulate new technologies,” he said, though his predecessor Lina Khan took an aggressive approach to AI.

“We see how things go and then we address problems as they arise,” Ferguson said. “Equally important is making sure that government regulators don't intervene too early, particularly with a technology that is transforming constantly, faster than even its engineers can predict.”

His remarks echo recent comments Commissioner Melissa Holyoak made in her personal capacity during a speech at a privacy conference, but are a more significant indicator of the agency’s new position on the issue given that he was speaking to lawmakers on behalf of the agency.
https://therecord.media/ftc-ferguson-wont-regulate-ai-until-problems-arise?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-80YVRf0KcyqLmWiEK1MoRwYM7W0NFY2wkPqMzMtPVB2CBvwHxXjl9XmKUJci7uCR58SHl7T1iZJPNKzG3qEUJM_Vx71w&_hsmi=361874599&utm_content=361876352&utm_source=hs_email

Corrupt to the core.

[dutch777]

1. I am sure that is true. Wouldn't want to set up a liability framework that makes AI agents $$ responsible for damages

or anything that may want they to think about what they do and how they do it. Kind of like having surgery and not taking pain meds recommended until pain is so bad and then trying to catch up on that. Bad idea! Lots of pain and then side effects of too much pain meds.

[highplainsdem]

2. "We address problems as they arise." Complete BS. There are already a multitude of problems with AI,

well documented.

This is a license for the AI bros funding and bribing Trump to do anything they want.

It's a complete failure by the FTC, and one that will hurt not just the US but the entire world.

[Passages]

3. They damn well know it too.

Same as they knew about the crooks of Wall Street, and what they will be enabling with crypto scams.