Oregon’s new artificial intelligence advisory group will meet for the first time
Published 4:07 pm Thursday, March 14, 2024
- Oregon's newly created advisory panel on the use of artificial intelligence has first meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Oregon’s new advisory council on artificial intelligence is set to meet for the first time Tuesday to start mapping out the role of artificial intelligence in state government.
The State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council, created by Gov. Tina Kotek with an executive order, will meet virtually from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday. The public can listen and provide feedback.
The council is responsible for coming up with a plan and recommendations to guide the state’s awareness and use of AI, including recommendations about how to use the technology in a transparent and fair way.
The council’s creation comes at a time of widespread recognition that AI is a powerful tool that offers benefits and risks. For example, AI can save staff time by transcribing audio or analyzing data to flag trends or problems. But the technology is not flawless and also raises privacy concerns.
In politics, AI could give some candidates for elected office a tool to lie about their opponents and make them appear to say or do something they did not.
In the recently concluded legislative session, Oregon lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1571, which would require political campaigns to disclose when their campaign materials use AI or digital technology to manipulate an image, video or audio in an effort to sway voters. It awaits Kotek’s signature. Washington state has a similar law in place and other state legislatures have considered AI laws for campaigns this year.
In 2023, at least 25 states introduced bills about AI, and 18 states and Puerto Rico passed proposals, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures report.
In September, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum sent a request to Congress on behalf of all attorneys general urging federal lawmakers to pass laws that prevent AI from harming children.
Under the governor’s executive order, the council will have a year to come up with the plan and recommendations. At its first meeting, the 15-member council will hear from Kotek, discuss the timeline and have an orientation that includes information about open meetings and public records laws.
No other meetings have been scheduled yet.