Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s bipartisan proposal to create an Artificial Intelligence Task Force in the Attorney General’s Office passed the Legislature today in a bipartisan 30-19 vote. The task force will convene technology experts, industry representatives, labor organizations, civil liberty groups and other stakeholders to discuss AI benefits and risks and make recommendations to the Legislature.
Senate Bill 5838, sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, previously passed the House and Senate in bipartisan votes. Today’s vote reconciled the amendments in both chambers, and sends the bill to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk for signature. Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, sponsored the companion bill in the House.
“AI is becoming a part of our daily lives, and it’s our duty to immediately begin working in a thoughtful way to ensure we protect Washingtonians against this technology’s risks while maximizing its benefits,” Ferguson said. “I appreciate the Legislature’s partnership, and I look forward to launching an inclusive task force that will develop recommendations to guide public policy in this important arena.”
“AI is like fire — it has tremendous potential to do both good and bad,” Sen. Nguyen said. “How we use it and the data we put into it is incredibly important. This task force will be important for learning about the right legislative response to the explosion in AI tools and is a great step forward to smart, effective use of AI for the people of Washington.”
AI technology is rapidly developing. In particular, generative AI — AI that creates content such as text, images or audio — has exploded in popularity. Tools like ChatGPT have become some of the fastest growing consumer internet applications of all time.
According to a recent survey, 79% of respondents in North America reported at least some exposure to generative AI. Forty-one percent report using it regularly, and 22% say they are using it regularly at work.
The legislation creates a task force supported by the Attorney General’s Office and composed of a nineteen-member executive committee and subcommittees as needed.
The executive committee of the task force must investigate and submit reports on several areas of concern, including, but not limited to:
- a review of public policy issues and existing protections;
- identification of high-risk uses, racial equity, and civil liberty issues; and
- recommendations for guiding principles, regulatory structures, and opportunities to support innovation.
At least 25 states have introduced legislation related to AI. Legislatures in states including Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Vermont and Virginia have created task forces or commissions to study AI. Several governors have also created AI task forces by executive order.
Every legislative session Attorney General Ferguson introduces a slate of Attorney General Request bills. The majority pass with bipartisan support.