WVXU: Tech CEOs talk AI with lawmakers

Tech leaders met on Capitol Hill this month to discuss the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and what, if any, regulations should be placed on the technology.

The discussion of AI seems to draw stark contrast of opinions, Richard Harknett, professor and director of UC’s School of Public and International Affairs, told WVXU’s Cincinnati Edition host Lucy May in a segment about the regulatory aspect of AI.   

 Harknett is also co-director of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute, and chair of the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy at the University of Cincinnati. 

Currently, opinions on AI, Harknett says fall far from one end of the spectrum to the other; from either “the world is under great threat to we’ve got this handled.”

“Something is going to fundamentally change,” he says, but he prefers not to look at it in drastic terms.

Calling AI “normal” tech development,” he says that AI can serve both an advisory role and a decision making role and uses automobile navigation systems as an example (e.g. humans plug an address into a nav system and the algorithm makes the decision what route to take).   

Harknett says there are very few voices who are saying “let’s just leave this (AI) alone,” but he feels that, in a capitalistic society, the successes and failures will drive the market.

“This is not a static situation. We are looking at a technology that is evolving and evolving at a rapid pace.”

Listen to the interview

Featured image of Richard Harknett by Colleen Kelley/UC Marketing + Brand.